Sarah Goard juggles it all

A typical day for senior Sarah Goard is very chaotic. She doesn’t have much down time during the day. Partially because she in many school activities, but also because she participates in many extracurricular activities.

Goard is the senior class president, Interact Club co-president, DECA president, and Robotics Marketing Team co-captain. She is an active member of SCA, FCA, FBLA, and Beta.

Goard has been a dancer for 15 years at Meredith Gravely School of Dance, where she takes ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop, and contemporary every week. She is also an Echolight choreographer.

“As an Echolight choreographer, I direct the little girls’ dance and choreograph the creative movement dance, but there are two black light performances and two creative movement performances,” said Goard.

Goard is also a Marion Baptist Church Echo senior leader and a Little Lights dance ministry director.

“I am a senior leader at my church. I have a group of teenagers and we go out to do service projects. I’m really there to be a positive influence,” said Goard.

Goard is a school board representative, as well, meaning she goes to all the meetings and gives her input on situations.

Goard still manages to take AP Literature even though she has so much going on.

“It’s a struggle to balance out school, dance, and my other activities but I try to get all my work done throughout the day. I usually do my written homework that I didn’t finish as soon as I get home from school and then study for upcoming quizzes and tests at night,” said Goard.

Goard is always seen walking around with a planner in her hand. She is running around fulfilling various projects, like collecting money for club activities.

Goard coordinated the Alzheimer’s Walk this year by getting participants together from THS. She started the first Casual for a Cause day here. This day allowed teachers to wear jeans to work for a day if they donated to the Alzheimer’s Association.

“My grandma suffered from Alzheimer’s, so I’m very passionate about raising money to find a cure, since, unfortunately, there wasn’t a cure for my grandma. I help raise money so hopefully, one day, no one else will have to go through what my grandma did,” said Goard.

Goard said she sometimes feels overwhelmed, but she tries to stay focused.

“If I could give advice to someone who feels like they’re taking on too much at once, I’d tell them to have a planner ready at all times to help keep them organized. Also to never turn down help, because sometimes it is too hard to do it all by yourself,” said Goard.

“Always try to stay ahead of the work, that way you can get more done without having to stress about schoolwork. Make sure to make friends with everyone because you don’t know who you might be working with, and it won’t work if you don’t get along with that person,” said Goard.

Goard hopes to attend Christopher Newport University next year. The university has a presidential leadership program that she said she is highly interested in.

“Eventually, I would like to open my own wedding planning business,” said Goard.

Goard has already gotten a taste of what it’s like being a wedding planner by recently planning a friend’s wedding.

Looking ahead, Goard has no intention to slow down, but wants to continue living life to the fullest.