Even though there’s still about half a semester left in the school year, North Rock Creek senior Cameron Black is already one foot out the door.
He plans to attend Seminole State after graduation and become a medical lab technician, but he’s already part of the way there. He’s been attending Gordon Cooper and has a certification in phlebotomy. Currently, he’s doing an apprenticeship at SSM Hospital in Shawnee, which replaces some of his classes at Gordon Cooper. It’s allowing him to get on-the-job training.
That’s what he’s focused on right now.
“It’s not that I feel like my classes (at NRC) are not going to help me. I just know that I already know what I need to do, and I just need to get through high school so I can continue on with my career,” he said.
Healthcare has always been a goal for Cameron. He said when he was younger, he wanted to be a doctor, even though at the time he wasn’t sure what he really wanted to do. He did eventually figure out that this was his path, so he kept building on it.
It’s certainly kept his senior year busy. Not only does he have his classes at NRC and Gordon Cooper to think about, but he’s also the drum major for the band. But Cameron hasn’t let the hecticness hold him back.
“It’s senior year. I got to go out big, and that’s just kind of what I told myself, like, who else gets the opportunity to do all of this?” he said.
Cameron has been in band since fifth grade and music has been a large part of his life. He thinks of music as a different language.
“It really speaks to me in a certain way, and my life revolves all around music. Band is one of the most interesting, influential things that’s happened to my whole life,” he said.
Making drum major was a very special thing for him and put him in a major leadership role. It was especially important this year as the marching band had an influx of new members in the freshman class, according to Cameron.
Being drum major involves a lot of reassurance -- letting those new and/or younger players know that they’ll get it. One instance in particular that stood out to Cameron was helping the band’s marimba player. She had to do a big piece on her own at the beginning of their first song.
“I just had to tell her I’m like, I promise you’re going to memorize this faster than you think, and you just got to keep practicing. You have a lot of time here because you don’t have to march,” he said, adding that it takes a lot of motivating, especially with younger kids. “We had a big group of freshmen this year, bigger than we ever had… so it took a lot, yeah, but just a lot of motivation helps.”
His leadership is something that hasn’t gone unnoticed. High School Principal Justin MacDonald noted it.
“He leads by example, stays composed, and helps keep the group focused and organized. It requires maturity, communication skills, and steady leadership in high-pressure moments, and Cameron has handled that responsibility well,” he said.
His mother, Monica Stroup, is also proud of Cameron’s accomplishments, saying he’s always excelled in school since he was in pre-K. She credits NRC schools with helping him as well.
“He’s had a lot of focus and his teachers always, always said he was, you know, on the top of the class,” she said.
She’s excited about where Cameron goes next, though admits that she’s happy he’s sticking closer to home for the time being.
“I’m not in that super freak out mode that the little bird is leaving the nest yet,” she said with a laugh. “I’ll do that when he finishes Seminole. But yeah, it’s surreal, actually, just to think that my only one is going graduate.”
There’s still more for Cameron to focus on. He’s involved in HOSA at GordonCooperandislooking forward to upcoming competitions. But he also has some advice for others.
“Stay involved. There are so many things, even (though) I’ve done so much, that I still regret not doing,” he said, mentioning football, which he is a passionate fan of. “Even though I’ve done so much, I just feel like I could have done a lot more.”
He continued, saying that you only get one chance, and so what if you don’t excel in it in high school?
“A lot of people don’t even remember their high school days because they weren’t involved. So I think it’s just to make the most of it while you’re still young and you have free education, you might as well take advantage of it,” he said.
This is the latest in the Senior Spotlight series, highlighting senior students from all of the high schools in the Lincoln County News coverage area.