Alumna Kailey Oakley is happy to return to Roxboro Community School (RCS) in a professional role.
After graduating from RCS, Kailey earned a double major in psychology and political science, and a minor in conflict management from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The RCS Class of 2017 valedictorian is now employed at Piedmont Community College (PCC). In her role there, Kailey will advise RCS students interested in the College and Career Promise (CCP) program.
Explaining that she hopes to help guide current and future RCS students toward college and careers, Kailey said, “I went into college undecided and with an open mind. I ultimately decided on political science and psychology after taking classes in both fields and really enjoying them. My RCS classes helped me know I wanted to pursue something in social science.” Her studies at UNC, she said, helped her determine the specific fields she wanted to study in social science.
“I love learning about people, and both of those fields look at how people think/believe/interact,” said Kailey. I also always knew I wanted to pursue a career working with people, because my RCS extracurriculars showed me how much I loved interacting [and] working with my classmates and others in the community.”
She added, “I can't wait to meet and get to know the students at RCS. Since I was in their place not too long ago, I feel like I can relate to many of their feelings and experiences. I hope to be a valuable resource to them during their time at RCS. I want to have a positive impact and help prepare them for their future goals. In addition, I hope my students feel safe and important when meeting with me about their future, and I plan to foster a relationship with them built on trust, understanding, and mutual respect.”
Kailey said she believes RCS helped prepare her for college and her career through both classes and extracurricular activities.
“Having Mrs. [Wanda] Ball for [Advanced Placement Literature] senior year taught me how to write a college level paper; having Mrs. [Christy] King for APUSH (Advanced Placement U.S. History) taught me how to take notes and pay attention to lectures, and having online AP courses taught me responsibility and personal motivation in order to not fall behind.” She continued, “The level expected from all of my teachers taught me to always try my best. My teachers would always mention the level of work expected at universities and often had classroom policies to prepare us for that higher expectation.”
During her years at RCS, Kailey was active in Beta Club, Interact, Student Council, Youth Legislative Assembly (YLA) and volleyball.
“I feel like I was almost always at RCS after school for something,” she said, adding, “Being in multiple leadership positions through various clubs and organizations also helped prepare me with developing time management and organizational skills, advocating for myself, and learning how to speak professionally to adults. As co-president of Beta Club and Interact Club, I was in constant communication with different people in the community to set up volunteer opportunities, get speakers for meetings, or reach fundraising goals.”
She said having support from her teachers, her high school counselor, and RCS high school principal Darkarai Bryant gave her “the confidence to take the next step without fear. I had so many teachers that believed in me along the way, and they truly left an impact that I will never forget.”
Kailey added, “My teachers at RCS were dedicated to building relationships with me. Having teachers I could trust helped me feel safe and important – something so crucial during the formative years of high school and something I hope to be able to provide for the students I work with. Some of those same teachers are still here now, and I am excited to work with them and get the opportunity to witness their magic all over again from the other side.”
She said, “In addition to all of the support I received at RCS, I have received, and continue to receive, so much support from my parents and brother. They are truly my favorite people and my safe place to land.” Kailey’s mother, Kathy Oakley, taught at RCS for years and still advises the YLA.
Regarding her job at PCC, Kailey explained, “Several factors influenced my decision to apply to my new job at PCC. Coming back home and contributing to the community that helped make me who I am was definitely a big one. Having the opportunity to help students and leave an impact was another driving factor. I loved the idea of every day looking different and every meeting with a student being unique. I have so many people that played an integral part in my education, so having the opportunity to play even a small part in these students' journey is an honor.”
Kailey will be at RCS on Tuesdays, in Room 222, to help students learn about and sign up for College and Career Promise classes and learn about other benefits of the RCS-PCC partnership.
Through the CCP program, high school juniors and seniors can enroll in college courses tuition-free and earn college credit while in high school.