Sophomore, Staff Writer | Maryn Leonard
“Money is a smokescreen – a distraction from the real problem.” Allie Akers tells me about her viewpoint on the current climate of politics. She believes that money has corrupted justice with greed and dishonesty. Allie believes that these flaws can be solved by someone who desires change and is determined to do their part in solving the problem. Ambition is a strong force in Allie’s life. She has a desire to win and be at the top. Allie Akers is determined to one day become the President of the United States.
Allie learned about ambition after loosing something she loved. Allison Akers loves horses. As long as she can remember she’s always loved the animal, and desired her own. Amazingly, Allie was leased a horse named Jerome. She’s been showing in horse competitions for more than seven years now, but finally she had her own horse to train and compete with. Not a month before her big competition, Jerome was sold away to a different family, completely crushing Allie. “I was out of control, he wasn’t mine, I couldn’t do anything to keep him.” Allie explains about how she felt helpless in her situation. This was a moment where Allie knew that she desired to be at the top, to control her own situations and avoid painful loss.
Top help her deal with her loses, Allie turned to her role model. The greatest role models in our lives are the ones who inspire us to be our best and share with us the tools and tricks to accomplishing our goals. For Allie her greatest role model is her own mother. Her mother offers her advice and helps guide her through life, “It’s really nice to have someone be there for you no matter who you are or what you look like,” Allie says about her mother. Her mother has taught her some very important skills such as how to present and speak publicly, how to stay motivated, and not to immerse herself into drama. This has all led to Allie’s desire to one day be the president. Allie’s mother raised her so that Allie could have whatever political opinion she desires. This has helped Allie’s political opinion grow as well as her love for politics.
Politics has always been something that Allie really loves. She is passionate about equality, justice and has a strong desire to enforce her beliefs. Allie loves law and wants to one day become an environmental lawyer before she conquers the United States and becomes president. For a while now Allie has been a part of Durham County Teen Court and Restitution Program. Allie works as a prosecutor for misdemeanors committed by teens in Durham. “Teen Court has been an amazing opportunity to practice what I love in a real world setting,” Allie says regarding Teen Court. There are also competitions she attends to face off against other counties. It can be described as the beginnings of becoming a real life lawyer.
Allie’s ambition has driven her to work extremely hard in Teen Court and other situations to better set herself up for the future she wants to uphold. She’s got a majority of her life mapped out. She knows what she wants and she’s going to fight to get it. Allie wants to grow up and be a lawyer and eventually, a politician to fight for the ideals she thinks are important. Her ideals feed her ambition and propel er further into her quest for success, “Never give up on hope, keep fighting,” she said is a motto she hopes to one day tell her grandchildren. Allie knows what she wants out of her future, she knows what she’s fighting for, but this doesn’t mean it will all be smooth sailing. Allie has learned from her mother and from the loss of her horse that setbacks can come at any turn. Her determination and true motivation is what will set her apart and help her fulfill her ambition to become a great politician and crusader for justice. The ambition that fuels her future is a defining part of what makes up Allie.
The Viking Tide 