RITTMAN — Soccer not only kept Rittman High School’s Teens of the Month Rebecca Berger and Allan Mackey physically fit, but it also taught them some of life’s greatest skills.
"It taught me so much from hard work to perseverance and almost everything in between," said senior Mackey. "Sports were definitely the greatest learning activity I’ve done."
Berger agreed soccer taught her a lot about teamwork and meeting new people, but what she enjoyed most was her time as a majorette for the Rittman marching band.
"I had the most fun being a majorette because I really like twirling. I got to go to all the football games and the band shows. It was a lot of fun," she said.
The daughter of Darrell and Lorie Berger plans to pursue a career in pharmacology following a conversation she had with her father, who works as a surgery scheduler at a local hospital. Her choice was affirmed when she visited colleges that walked her through the program.
Mackey wants to work in the automotive industry developing new vehicle engines. He had his chosen career path affirmed multiple times over the last few years, first on a career aptitude test, then while visiting colleges.
"I’ve always enjoyed the math and science aspects of school. On one of those career aptitude tests, I scored pretty high for engineering," the son of Chris and Angel Mackey said. "When I started going to colleges and they explained the program, I just fell in love with it."
While Mackey is introducing his younger brother Andy to the college application process, Berger knew exactly what was ahead by watching her older sister Emily, a post-grad nursing student at Ashland University, go through the process a few years ago.
"Seeing her try to figure out college stuff and picking out careers and all of that, it has helped to see her go through it first," Berger said.
From her parents, Berger learned the value of hard work and that she shouldn’t "half do" anything that she pursues. Mackey took away from his parents that honesty is always the best option.
"Your word is the biggest thing that you can have to hold onto," he said. "If somebody can’t trust you, then why should they really associate with you?"
As they wrap up their high school years, Berger and Mackey both emphasized the importance of getting good grades and getting things done ahead of time. Berger also encouraged juniors and seniors to make a plan when they start looking at their post-grad future.
"For the younger kids, try to take advantage of every opportunity, because they usually don’t come around again," Mackey said. "For the older kids, on the college side of things, be patient, keep looking, the right place for you will come around eventually. It’s just a matter of finding it."
Reporter Emily Morgan can be reached at 330-287-1632 or emorgan@the-daily-record.com.