GAMES
RANKINGS
Willis' Mylee Williams
BLEEDING PURPLE: Williams has become fully immersed in the Willis ISD culture
Cheer captain Mylee Williams cheers for her school-mates on the sidelines, but also stars for the Wildcat volleyball team in the fall.
“Honestly, juggling those two parts of my life as a student-athlete can be difficult,” she said. “I go into each practice ready to work and focus on that specific skill. It’s hard sometimes when managing school too, but I’m committed to devoting the time to both teams because that’s what they deserve.”
Although the senior transferred to Willis ISD from College Station just four years ago, she wasted little time in recognizing what stepping through the school’s doors meant to her.
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
“Being a Wildkat has been the best thing for me,” Williams said. “In my experience, I’ve seen how everyone comes together as a community, which you might see in other places, but it’s different at Willis. Everyone bleeds purple and it’s been amazing to grow up in the short time I’ve lived here.”
The same could be said for the moments she’s spent in both fields of play.
“I would just say learning about each girl and developing bonds with everyone has really helped me to improve myself in a lot of ways,” said Williams. “I feel like I’ve grown to understand how to interact with different kinds of people, which is something you definitely need, especially as a leader.”
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
Now that Williams is approaching the final stretch of her high school career, she already has a plan locked in for what her foreseeable future might look like.
“Ideally, I’d want to go to college with a scholarship for both sports,” she said. “When it comes to my career path, education is something that I’ve really been looking into. Coaching would be fun, as well. I think that being a cheer coach would be more my style since I’m a little more familiar with that area.”
If the choices she’s made up to this point are any indication, the outlook should remain bright for Williams throughout the remainder of her formative years.
Willis' Molly McCollum
HOME GIRL: McCollum's bright future is ahead of her
“I moved from Conroe before high school, and it was an adjustment,” she said. “I love Willis High School, because of the small-town feel. I love the people and the community. It feels very personal here at Willis.”
McCollum has been in the Willis cheer program for four years and has been a captain for two years.
“Cheering is really fun, and I love being the face our of program in and outside of the community,” she said. “I’ve learned so much, like how to be a true leader. I’ve learned how to teach and listen to others. Cheer has opened me up to learning new things and taking constructive criticism. It’s like a big family.”
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
She is the baby of her big family... filled with siblings, cousins and aunts and uncles who have been wildly successful.
“I’ve always been really mature because I’ve always been around older people,” she said. “I’ve grown up old, if that makes sense. It has taught me how to listen and think things through, before I speak.
“All of my family are also entrepreneurs and own their own businesses. I definitely look up to them and they have showed me what work ethic looks like. My goal in life is to follow in their footsteps and surpass the goals I’ve set out for myself.”
McCollum is much more than pom-poms and sign painting. She has a pair of career paths she is looking towards... heading to Texas A&M to pursue communications or starting a cosmetology business.
“I want to manage social media for a professional or college sports team,” she said. “I love creating content and growing my platform. I could also do something with cosmetology because it is such growing field. Either way, I want to own my own business.
“My cosmetology path always helps me think about my future. It really prepares me for starting a business, because you get real-world experience on a day-to-day basis.”
As her high school days wind down, McCollum looks back fondly on her time inside the hallways of Willis.
It’s always been about the people.
“My high school counselor Cindy Atkinson had such a huge influence on my path,” she said. “I look up to her so much because she has helped me learn more about myself over the years.”
It’s not always about the books, it’s about the experience.
For McCollum, Willis High has been home.