Iola High grad’s quest for perfection pays off

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Local News

May 8, 2019 - 11:00 AM

Emmie Brant plans to pursue a career in nursing now that she has completed her high school career in Iola. She will earn her diploma Saturday at senior commencement.

In talking with Emmie Brant, one gets the impression of a wide-eyed teenager who knows she has the entire world in front of her, yet is realistic in her approach.

She is certain she wants to be a nurse, but understands she’ll probably change her mind “a thousand more times” when deciding which type of nursing to pursue.

She’s already experienced plenty, as a certified nurse’s aide at a local nursing home, and as an intern at Allen County Regional Hospital and Yates Center Medical Clinic.

“I like that I already know a little bit about it now,” she said. “I got to see what nurses do, and it’s helping me figure out what I want to do.”

But first comes Saturday’s Iola High School graduation ceremony, at which Brant is one of six outgoing seniors who has sported a perfect 4.0 grade-point average through high school.

She spoke about her ongoing pursuit of perfection, and how her passion for helping others will likely play a significant role in deciding on a career.

 

FOR BRANT, the thought of striving for anything less than an A never passed her radar.

“It was always my goal,” she said, “even before high school. My mother always wanted me to do well. She was OK if I wasn’t perfect, but I wanted to be perfect.”

“I’m just one of those people,” she continued. “You’re the best, or you’re nothing.”

Her desire to be the best meant enrolling in Kansas Honors courses — four years of science and math — on top of other tough electives.

The daughter of IHS guidance counselor Melissa Stiffler, Brant said calculus, history and chemistry, all rank at the top, both in terms of difficulty and as her favorite courses. 

“Math has always been my favorite subject, and I love Mrs. Kauth,” she said, referring to math instructor Diane Kauth. “But calculus is so hard, probably the hardest class I’ve ever had. I’ve taken Mr. (Dana) Daugharthy’s (science) classes, too. He’s another of my favorites.”

History classes under Travis Hermstein revealed a bit of Brant’s philosophy about education. Hermstein, she explained, is notorious among IHS students for being stingy with A’s.

“But that’s because he really makes you work,” she said. “I knew that going in. My mom wanted me to take his classes, and I wanted to in order to stay focused and stay motivated. A lot of people are really smart, but they let it go sometimes. I don’t want to do that.”

Perhaps the biggest key to her success stemmed from time management.

She would politely refuse invitations for nights out with friends, or other activities, if an assignment was due.

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