Crane’s Zoe Sierra has been working toward her goals for the future for most of her high school career.
She took multiple college credit courses, was a member of her school’s National Honor Society and competed as a varsity volleyball and track athlete.
Sierra will graduate sixth in Crane High School’s Class of 2022, looking to study nursing when she gets to college.
“I’ve just always kind of pushed myself, it’s just been a me thing, that’s just who I am,” Sierra said of her ability to main a well-balanced schedule. “I just didn’t want to be a regular person, I wanted something to help me stand out.”
Sierra decided she wanted to be a nurse when she was a sophomore at Crane, starting the necessary pre-requisite courses to make sure she can go directly into nursing school after her high school graduation.
She also earned recognition for her efforts as an athlete, being a second team All-District selection and receiving academic All-District distinction through volleyball.
To stay on top of her practice schedule and homework assignments, she sacrificed some of the extra time she would spend with friends outside of school.
Sierra also founds ways to maintain one of her highest priorities, which included attending church on a consistent basis.
It all worked out for the multi-sport student-athlete, as she is prepared to continue her academic career at Odessa College.
She is planning on going through Odessa College’s joint program with Texas Tech to get her Bachelor’s degree in nursing before possibly pursuing a Master’s degree at Texas Tech or the University of Texas.
Her career goals include being a travel nurse.
“I think nursing is going to be a big deal for me because I’m trying to get it done as soon as I can, so that I can travel a lot,” Sierra said.
Crane track coach Machele Pahl saw Sierra become a positive influence for her teammates on the varsity track team, setting a strong example by keeping track of each task on her schedule.
Academics have always been emphasized by the athletic department at Crane as each coach believes that’s where their athletes can set themselves apart later on in life.
Pahl added that Sierra always made sure her grades were in order, describing the student-athlete as a goal-getter.
“She doesn’t need a lot of help from people, she does really good and she takes the dual-credit classes,” Pahl said. “She does a lot on her own.”
Sierra won’t continue her athletic career at the next level, but she learned important lessons in teamwork through sports that she plans on carrying with her for the rest of her life.
She’s grateful for the skills she picked up in working with others through athletics at Crane.
The student-athlete said she worked hard through her time in high school to finish in the top 10% of her graduating class and she plans on maintaining her work ethic in college.
“Kind of seeing it come to life at the very end is really good for me because it motivates me to push myself more when it comes to college,” Sierra said.
With graduation just a few days away, Sierra will leave behind a strong example for her teammates and younger members of the Crane community when it comes to excelling on and off the playing surface.
“If you want to take the dual-credit classes, if you want to make academics important and you want to do the sports, it can be done,” Pahl said. “She’s a good example to show everybody else what you’ll have to follow to get there.
“There is sacrifice involved but if you want to do it, it is doable.”
>> Follow Chris Amaya on Twitter at @OA_CAmaya
ZOE SIERRA
CRANE
>> Academic Rank: Sixth
>> Sports: Volleyball; Track
>> Academic bio: Top 10 percent; UIL; Academic All-District (Volleyball); Angelo State University dual credit; Odessa College dual credit; National Honor Society
>> Athletic bio: Volleyball (2020 co-district champions; Second team all district); Track (varsity)
>> Activities: Church
>> College and major: Odessa College (Nursing)
>> Goals for the future: Become a travel nurse and be successful in everything I do
>> Favorite subject: Science
>> Favorite book: Dead Poets Society (Nancy H. Kleinbaum)
>> Favorite musician: Etta James
>> Role model: My parents
