To Avery Gardner, being an Eisenhower Eagle means being part of something bigger than oneself.
“We are known for so many things that we do to help benefit not only the people in our school, but also the community around us,” Gardner said.
The Eisenhower High School senior plays golf, is involved in senior leadership, serves as EHS student body vice president, is president of Key Club and is active in Partners Club.
“I’ve been playing golf for 4 years. I grew up watching my family play,” Gardner said. “Most of my dad’s side of the family and then my step dad and brother [play golf]. I wanted to play because my brother played and then my family encouraged me to continue playing.”
The mental aspect of the sport is a known obstacle, and learning to forget your last shot is typically a rite of passage for young players.
“Golf is more mental than anything, and I really struggled getting in my head right after bad shots,” Gardner said. “I learned that it’s not that serious, honestly. I absolutely love playing golf and getting to be outdoors while meeting people who enjoy the same things as me, but I have the rest of my life to play golf, so I just try to focus on doing my best and having fun — which isn’t always the easiest because I am very competitive. But I continue to tell myself it’s not that serious.”
Learning that lesson early was important for Gardner’s golf career. Last year, she made the 5A girls golf state tournament.
“I did not play the best, but I was incredibly blessed to get the chance to go,” Gardner said.
Leadership is a natural trait for Gardner, indicative in her various leadership roles within the student body.
“Leadership is important to me because it gives me more opportunities to be able to do work for my community, not just my school, and allowed me to build relationships with other seniors in my school,” Gardner said.
After high school, Gardner plans to attend Oklahoma State University to pursue a degree in agriculture.
