VYPE Willis ISD September 2022

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\\ By Ma t t Ma l a t e s t a SEN I OR LOVES CONNECT I NG FR I END GROUPS S I X D E G R E E S O F LEGGETT

“My mom has always been involved in every volunteer group in the area. I’ve been raised to do the same thing. I take after her in that way.” She has a kind hear t and is always willing to help others. It ’s no surprise then to learn of her future plans. “I want to be a substance abuse counselor,” Leggett said. “I don’ t know, I just have that calling.” While she represents her school as a varsity cheerleader in the fall , she throws on her spikes and runs track in the spring. “ Track helps me so much in cheerleading by keeping me in great shape,” she said. “It keeps my endurance up when lifting girls in the air or doing tumbling passes. Cheer helps me be a leader in track . Track doesn’ t really have captains. Everyone is doing their own thing, so I try and bring everyone together. It works, sometimes.” The all-AP student loves a quick stop at Taco Bell and to binge Schitt ’s Creek on Netflix . “Can I say that?” she laughed. Leggett is a Willis lifer. It ’s her hometown. She loves wearing the purple and white. “I take pride in Willis,” she said. “As a cheerleader, I love seeing how the school spirit has grown over the past few years. I hope we make people excited about going to Willis. That ’s our goal , right?”

THE CONCEPT OF “SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION” IS SIMPLE. It is the idea that everyone is six or fewer social connections away from each other. It ’s the chain of being a “friend of a friend” that connects us. Ever hear talking with new acquaintances? Well , Katie Leggett is a Social Network all unto herself. The senior cheerleader prides herself on being a “connector ” of people inside the halls of Willis High. “I’m good at making friends and being in different friend groups,” Leggett said. “I love seeing those different groups of friends become friends. I like putting people together. Is that weird?” Not really, it ’s sor t of inspirational. of the saying, “What a small world”, when

“I just like being

active,” she said.

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