Hard work, countless hours of volunteering send teen to D.C.

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Scott Saldukas
  • 47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Most 15 year olds spend the majority of their time simply hanging out, going to the mall or talking on the phone. While all of that is ok, one Laughlin teen spends much of her time a little different.

Volunteering more than 250 hours, is a Girl Scout, teen council and Keystone Club president, a member of her high school volleyball, Destination Imagination and University Interscholastic League teams, baby sitter for military families and is an honors student, it's easy to say Kayla Staten is disserving in earn Laughlin's 2012 Youth of the Year award.

"I was surprised and really happy," she said humbly with a big smile.

Staten was informed of her selection as the top youth here earlier this year but was recognized June 13 for her selection to travel to Washington, D.C., with the other top teens throughout the Air Force.

"Being told I was going to Washington was like winning a second time, I didn't expect it," she said. "I'm very thankful for the opportunity to go and am excited to meet and interact with all the other people going."

While Staten was the winner for this past year, it all started a long time ago for the high schooler.

"I guess I started in third grade after joining the Girl Scouts and began getting more involved with other things," Staten said. "I just really like helping people and I always have."

Starting at such a young age it is easy to imagine how much time she has put in to become a better person and help others.

"How many hours total has she given, wow, that is tough," said her mother, Veronica McCoy with the 47th Force Support Squadron. "It has to be in the thousands. We just started keeping track since she got to high school."

Staten explained how her life as a military child has helped her grow into the person she is today.

"I think the more you travel and experience you have helps tremendously," she said. "You don't like that you have to pick up and leave all the time but it allows you to experience different things and cultures."

Her mother credits her success to her taking charge and being a leader at a young age.

"She has always been a leader," her mother said. "That is why I am not so much surprised as I am proud of her for her accomplishments. This proves she is constantly working hard to get better and become a leader."

While schools out for summer vacation, like always, she has a crammed schedule.

"When I'm not busy with the other activities I am a part of, I am helping at the maintenance directorate as a secretary since they don't have one at the moment," Staten said. "After the three-day conference in Washington, I will be attending a teen leadership camp in San Antonio as well."

Constantly on the go, Staten explained how all of the things she is doing now will help her down the road to reach her goal to study speech-language pathology.

"I know she will be successful," her mother said. "I hope she keeps this disposition and understands her worth."

Even though it seems impossible for her to have free time with a schedule of a major business CEO, she still is a teenager who likes to hang out with her friends and "chill".