Senior Kara Kilpatrick knows what it’s like to have a lot on her plate. Between her involvement in the Academy, dance, being a Peer Group Leader and youth group leader, work, multiple clubs and choir, Kilpatrick’s life is a balancing act. Appropriately, Kilpatrick is also the proprietor of South’s newest club, Buoy, which seeks to relieve some of the stress students face on an everyday basis.

According to Kilpatrick, mental wellness and personal stress are both issues very close to her heart. Recognizing the stress in her own life and the lives of her peers, she was inspired to start Buoy.

“I know what it’s like to be stressed, and I know how stressed everyone around me is, so I wanted to do something to help them,” Kilpatrick commented.

Activities that she has led in Buoy have included a time capsule activity, watching movies like The Parent Trap for the cinema theme of homecoming and participating in yoga and guided meditation.

However, Kilpatrick isn’t the only one who sees the potential in Buoy. According to the Academy teacher Matthew Whipple, the organization of Buoy not only shines a light on the plights faced by many other students, but also Kilpatrick’s kind spirit.

“The emphasis of her new club, the Buoy club, shows her to be someone who has an important sense of challenges that are faced by high school students,” Whipple explained. “Her organizing this club and wanting to help other students meet the demands says something about what her character is […] She cares enough to want to find positive ways to make the lives of students better.”

In addition to her leadership through Buoy, Kilpatrick also shines in areas like dance and choir, according to junior Bridget Fogarty. Fogarty dances in the same dance company as Kilpatrick and thinks her strong leadership makes her a role model.

“She’s so good [at dancing] and she’s also a really good choreographer,” Fogarty explained. “It’s funny because she doesn’t do dancing really at school, but she’s got this whole other side [of her] where she got a ton of choreography awards, and she got into a choreography showcase.”

During Kilpatrick’s junior year, she displayed her passion for dance by choreographing a routine for South’s annual Variety Show. According to Kilpatrick, former choir director Stevie Marks was an incredible support system for her as a dancer.

“Probably the most influential teacher I ever had was Mrs. Marks,” Kilpatrick said. “In last year’s Variety Show, I had my own act. I choreographed my own dance and she was the one who was my guide […] She worked with me on my act, she always seemed to believe in me, and really pushed for my act to be in the show.”

In addition to Kilpatrick being a competitive dancer, she also fulfills the role of peer group leader. According to Benjamin Widner, peer group teacher, Kilpatrick is a natural for the job.

“I think she’s a great fit for the job—not only because of her kindness, but also a Peer Group Leader needs to be very conscientious and care about the people around them,” Widner explained.

As for Kilpatrick’s future, she said that she is interested in attending a school that values the wellbeing of their students, not just their academic achievements. Kilpatrick added that she would be up for starting a similar program to Buoy at the college she attends if they don’t already have one. She also has high hopes for the club’s future at South.

“I’m looking at prolonging Buoy and making sure that it sticks around because I think the purpose is pretty important,” Kilpatrick said. “So, hopefully, I’ll be passing it along to some of my younger friends because I don’t want it to end with me.”