THOMASVILLE — The top two graduates from the Thomas County Central High School class of 2021 have described senior year perhaps unlike any other for high schoolers with one succinct word.

“It’s definitely been weird,” said Anna James, the class valedictorian. “It was really weird coming back to school. I remember the first day of school, sitting in math and going wow, this year is really starting.”

Salutatorian Abby Allensworth said she missed being in school and seeing friends on a daily basis.

“It’s been difficult,” she said. “Being at home with your parents got boring after a couple of months. And online learning was not the best. It was not my thing.”

Both James and Allensworth took AP Calculus this year. Allensworth’s course load included AP Human Geography, AP Physics, AP Art History and AP Focus. 

James, too, is taking AP Physics and AP Focus, along with Economics and Inorganic Chemistry and Literature through a dual enrollment with Kennesaw State University, where she will attend college.

James’ plans include majoring in biochemistry and obtaining a minor in Spanish. She also may study Russian.  

“I like studying languages,” she said. “That was a big part of my college search. I wanted to make sure they had a good selection.”

Allensworth is headed to the University of Georgia. Her brother attends UGa, and so did her parents. 

“They’ve got an engineering program that is up and coming,” she said. 

Her favorite courses have been AP Art History and AP Psychology, both taught by Amy Ponder.

“I like the environment in both,” Allensworth said. “They were just fun. I like architecture. I think it’s really cool.”

James admitted she wasn’t a fan of chemistry before taking AP Chemistry. Her attitude toward the subject changed so much she’s pursuing it at KSU. It and AP Biology, both she took last year, were her favorite courses.

“I used to not like chemistry,” she said. “But when I started the math side of it and not just theories, I really started to like it. So AP Chemistry really boosted my confidence and made me want to study it in college.”

Their respective speeches are nearing completion — Allensworth acknowledged she’s not a writer but instead a “math gal” — but they know what they don’t want their speeches to be.

“I don’t want to be generic,” James declared.

“I don’t want to say anything cliché,” Allensworth said.

Seeing their fellow classmates gathered for graduation also will be a unique scene for James and Allensworth. 

“It will be weird seeing everybody,” Allensworth said. “Some people have gone online. It will be definitely weird to see everybody in one spot at one time.” 

The COVID-19 pandemic that led to schools being closed for the final two months of last year also affected this year’s schedule. It meant some usual occurrences of high school life just didn’t occur.

“I do get kind of sad when I realize I’m not going to have a normal senior year,” James said. “We didn’t have a prom or homecoming or a lot of the sporting events. But I feel bad for feeling bad for seniors because people of dying from COVID.” 

“I think we did the best we could with it,” Allensworth said. “It was different and took some getting used to.” 

Editor Pat Donahue can be reached at (229) 226-2400 ext. 1806.