By JENNIFER MAIER / For the Reporter

For Faryn Fryer, school is something she looks forward to every day. Not every teenager would be willing to say the same thing. But for Fryer, school has been a chance for her to stretch her wings and try new things.

The Shelby County High School senior, who is SGA Executive President, has a track record of service to her school.

“I have been on the SGA for all four years,” she said. She was class president and executive chaplain her freshman, sophomore and junior years.

Fryer is also involved in other activities such as Key Club, Beta Club, National Honor Society as well as being a participant on academic teams such as Battle of the Books, Scholars Bowl and Math Team. She joined the track team this spring and is a member of the marching and concert band and the choir.

“Outside of school I enjoy dancing with Dream Makers’ Dance, participating in youth activities at the First Baptist Church of Columbiana, where I also am active with the sign language ministry,” Fryer said. “I enjoy volunteering with the Columbiana Public Library and being involved in my community in whatever way I can.”

Other activities such as Alabama Girls State, HOBY (Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership) and Shelby County Leadership Conference, have provided Fryer the opportunity to meet people from other places.

“I love meeting people and so being involved with all of these [activities] affords me the opportunity to meet different people both across the county and the state,” Fryer explained. “I believe that, as much as I love my high school, it is important to develop relationships outside of your community.”

Fryer was one of only five girls in the state chosen be a part of the Alabama Woman’s Missionary Union’s Alabama Challenge Team, which plans a large conference for teenage girls that takes place in the spring.

“Through this and everything else I have already mentioned, I have been fortunate to develop lifelong friendships,” Fryer said. “For example, at the county tournament for Battle of the Books, I am able to see people you really only see there, but where we have all done it since elementary school, we know who everyone is and pick right back up where we left off the last year.”

After high school Fryer plans to study Collaborative Special Education at the University of Alabama, where she also plans to earn her Sign Language Interpreting Certification.

After earning her degree, she wants to return and study library science, with a goal of one day working as librarian at the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind.

With a background in student government, along with her participation in Alabama Girls State, Fryer also sees herself serving on the county or state board of education.

Her love of studying government has inspired her to give back to her community through public service.

“I love learning about how our government works on the local, state, and national levels,” Fryer said. “It has inspired me to, when I am old enough, be politically active to make my community better by participating.”