Pleasant Home School’s Valedictorian Bella Worley knew from a young age that she wanted to become valedictorian.

“When I was growing up in school, my parents instilled in me how important education is,” Worley said. “They always taught me to work hard in school and never let the abilities I had be wasted. From a young age I knew that I wanted to be valedictorian, and I have been working for it ever since. I owe any success I have had to my parents, and making them, and my elementary school self, proud has been my motivation.”

Worley said that since elementary school, she has been in competition with salutatorian Hailey Hardy.

“Ever since elementary school, me and Hailey always talked about being Val and Sal together,” Worley said. “Our final top five were incredibly close in our grades, and me and Hailey were both shocked and excited to be Val and Sal together, just like we always said we wanted.”

She is very involved in extracurricular activities at PHS including volleyball, basketball, and softball for PHS, president of FCCLA, Peer Club, Beta Club, and her senior class. She is also a member of Student Council and Culture Club.

The women in Worley’s church life are the people to whom she looks up to the most as her role models.

“There are so many women in my church and in my life that I look up to in many ways,” Worley said. “Because of their constant and diligent faiths, constant joy, and realness that is never hidden. My own mom, Mrs. Amy Davis, Mrs. Adrienne Cox, Sara Beth Kelley, Mrs. Lori Fuqua, and so many others are my role models.”

Outside of the classroom, Worley attends Carolina Baptist Church, where she is involved in their youth group Refuge 461, and is actively volunteering in community events.

After graduation, Worley plans to attend Troy University to earn a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. She hopes to further her education by getting her master’s degree in English for broader opportunities to teach.

Worley is the daughter of Garland and Tracy Worley and is the granddaughter of Bruce and Gail Whisonant, Daniel and Virginia Varney and S.J. and Mary Parker.