While college is his first step, Wesley Myers is eyeing NASA in the long term.
By Deby Jo Ferguson
Staff Writer
Wesley Daniel Myers, 18, was born in Charlotte, N.C. and moved to Hayesville with his family at the age of 3. He is the son of Daniel Myers and Melissa and Kevin Williams.
“I always went to school in Clay County beginning with headstart until I graduated on Saturday, May 25. Moving to the mountains so young — this is where my memories are,” Myers said.
Wesley holds many fond memories of his years attending school in Hayesville.
“When I was in elementary and middle school I played soccer and baseball. Then in high school I started playing the trumpet with the band and became band captain. It was an awesome experience. I love playing the trumpet and made some great friends, friendships that I think will last for the long run,” he said. “We had a great time on the bus trips, going out to eat together and of course we made memories preforming during competition.
“In my senior year there were about 100 of us and most had gone to school together from kindergarten to high school. We were a pretty close group and most of us were always there for each other. It’s been a blessing to have that bond of a small town unlike the bigger city schools where there are so many students. I’ll miss seeing a lot of my friends going to college, but with technology the way it is today you can just Facetime anyone you want to talk to,” Wesley said.
The recent graduate has stayed busy with his studies during high school earning two degrees at TCCC including an Associate in Arts college transfer and Associate in Science.
“It was challenging. Starting my junior year of high school, I started working on my degrees at TCCC along with my classes at high school. Sometimes it was rough, some blood, sweat and tears shed but it was worth it because now I won’t have to take those classes in college. I also did classes at night to get my EMT certificate and doing all three classes was really challenging,” he admitted.
Wesley also has a full life at home having two sisters with whom he is close.
“I have two sisters, Nousumi “Mimi” and Natalie who both have Down syndrome. They are my cheer leaders because they have cheered me on the entire way. My sister Natalie isn’t verbal, but we just find a way to get around it. Mimi came into my life when I was about 3, so I don’t have a memory where she wasn’t there. She is always happy and cheerful. They have both been a blessing in my life, they are angels,” he added.
Myers will be attending a four-year university at Florida Institute of Technology.
“I will be roommates with my best friend Lance Dudley. He is going to the same college as I am which will be great. The college is located close to NASA and Kennedy Space Center where I will study Astro Biology which is the study of human life in space and search of other life,” explained Wesley. “I will have access to some of the largest telescopes on the eastern seaboard and get to go to NASA. I am hoping to line up a NASA internship while I’m attending college. I think if I apply myself correctly, I can do it.”
Space and the study of what possibilities lay beyond earth fascinates Wesley.
“My plans are to eventually become a researcher for NASA or Space X. Researching all of the wonderful things in space and helping push that boundary is what’s on the front line of my goals for my future employment,” he said.
When Wesley was asked his feelings about the world today, his response was cautious but optimistic.
“It’s a little rough right now but still fixable. I think as each generation comes along hopefully, they will do better than the last. If we pass down the wisdom we have learned and people start to heal we can make the world a better place to live,” he said. “To do this we must be humble and look out for the other guy, not everyone out just for themselves. Right now, it’s like people are more predatory. It will take a lot of healing, but as long if each generation has a better attitude than the last going into it, I think it can be turned around.”
According to Wesley his parents separated within a couple of years of moving to Hayesville. When asked who set the example for him to succeed, he didn’t mince words, it was his mother.
“She is definitely my role model. After she and my dad split before she married my stepdad, it was just her, me and my sisters. She put herself through nursing school while it was just us. She worked nights at the hospital while doing her studies during the day with hardly any sleep. She was incredible,” Wesley said. “My mom is a wonderful person. It wasn’t really that hard what all I did in high school compared to what she had to go through. She encouraged me and made me stronger just seeing how kind and humble she was during that rough period of her life.”
What is Myers’ drive to succeed in his future endeavors?
“My goal is to one day have a wife and children; my sisters would make great aunties. I want to succeed in my profession so I can make sure my parents and sisters, along with my own family can live comfortably.
“Academically there are many classmates that are farther ahead of me, but I feel like my attitude, work ethics and staying humble and kind have helped me out a lot and will continue to do so. I’m ready — it’s time to spread my wings and show the world who I am,” Myers said.