Hillsborough County Public Schools issued the following announcement on Feb. 25.
When King High School Senior Reagan Overton found out the U.S. Military Academy at West Point was handing out admissions decisions, she took her laptop into the guidance office. Reagan wanted to learn if she gained acceptance to the highly selective school in the company of her mother and three guidance counselors.
"I was freaking out and kind of sweating a little bit," said Overton. She sat down with her laptop as her counselors set up pom poms and stood by with a megaphone in case it was time for celebration.
Reagan threw her hands up in the air and started screaming in a video posted on Facebook that has now garnered more than 1.3 million views. Her guidance department jumped and danced and celebrated what Reagan has been dreaming of since sixth grade.
"This is my first student to get accepted into West Point. As soon as we heard it, we were just so excited. We were excited to the point where we forgot there was some testing down the hall," said Guidance Counselor Tracy Thompson.
Reagan credits her guidance department with helping her achieve her goal.
"They're always there to listen and help me every step of the way, especially when I'm struggling, they give me the best advice," she said. "I don't want to say they're my friends, but they really are. They've been there for me through everything and they're amazing all-around people," said Reagan.
Her Success Coach, Bianca Stone says these moments make their job worth it.
"Those are our 'why' moments. For that to happen to her and for us to be a part of it, we just want to celebrate our kids. That was such a special moment for her, and we're actually more excited and honored we got to be a part of it," said Stone.
Reagan is not part of the IB program at King, and Thompson says that should give traditional students inspiration. "It gives hope for those students who don't think they can do it and need that extra push," said Thompson. "She's an excellent example of a student that is determined and hard-working, that it can be possible."
Reagan is also a cheerleader and the Valedictorian of her class.
"Everything I've done up to this moment has been building up to this," said Reagan. I don't think I've been much prouder than this."
Original source can be found here.
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