Being named an Outstanding Senior at Millbrook High School is a significant honor, and Lisette Hunter is one of the 15 students chosen for this recognition. As an agriculture student with numerous achievements, Lisette stands out not only for her academic success, but also for her dedication as one of the few AP students to be awarded this title. She plays tennis for Millbrook and spends her free time at Ebony Racquet Club, an African American-centered tennis club in Raleigh.
In an exclusive interview, the CatTalk gained insight into her journey as a student and the accomplishments and character of this exceptional student, along with the experiences that shaped her high school years.
How did you keep yourself motivated? Were you always academically gifted?
“It was self motivation mostly, and I’m going to say yes, I was always academically gifted. I remember hiding between the window and my bed, just doing math problems. I also found an old paper of mine where I was analyzing the Olympics, like why they did this and that. I look back at it now, and I’m like okay that’s a bit weird, but I still had a fun childhood so I guess it’s okay.”
Have you ever steered off the right path, for example making a bad friend that threw you off in any way?
“I don’t think I’ve ever encountered a crazy bad friend or anything. People always say I have good character judgment. But I remember having a hard time my sophomore year just being really tired and everything just felt extremely repetitive, and the only thing that kept me going was the idea that next year might be better.”
What are your future plans?
“I just got accepted to James Madison University in Virginia. But the main college I was aiming for is NC State because I was planning on studying biochemistry there then having JMU as my backup. Career wise my goal is to be either a forensic or environmental toxicologist.”
What was your first impression of High School, when you first started as a freshman?
“I was really excited since I came from a small private school of about 70 students in my own grade. I was looking forward to a bigger school, but now my only hope is to not get crushed in the hallway or anything. That big change also wasn’t that scary, and I loved it so much.”
Looking back at your high school years, what is your final impression like?
“I definitely like this school, I like it but it’s a little more crowded now compared to when I started here. I’d like to get through a hallway without being hit in the face. It’s definitely a good school, I feel like anyone could walk into the school and find their crowd.”
Memorable teacher at Millbrook?
“I always call her out for this, but Miss Broadwell. She’s one of the CTE teachers. She was the first teacher who I kind of connected with when I came to the school. The reason I connected with her is because she pulled a bunch of us out to the hallway to try to do something like one of the competitions for FFA, and I took it personally. I was like she thinks I’m cool, so that kind of stuck with me.”
Advice you would give to a freshman?
“I would say definitely watch the people you surround yourself with. But other than that, joining clubs is a must!”
Favorite Millbrook tradition?
“I remember that during my freshman year, we used to have baby powder at the football games. They would take baking powder in their hands and throw it up during the kickoff, and then they told us to stop doing that, and although it was clearly a hazard, I was still disappointed.”
Final things worth mentioning
“My three main positions would be president of BSU last year, so now I’m the senior advisor. Also, I am a secretary in student equity and currently president of the French Honor Society. I’m also an active member of FFA. I worked for the opportunity to go to Nationals and win the bronze medal.”
Lisette Hunter is naturally academically motivated, continuously striving to turn her passion into a successful career. Despite going through hard times in highschool like the repetitive nature of sophomore year, Lisette had faith in the idea that things will get better, and so they did. She is excited about her future having been accepted into James Madison University and aiming for a career in toxicology or biochemistry!
Support from Family and Teachers
Lisette’s dedication and character have been shaped by both her family and teachers. Her sister, Giovanna Hunter, reflected on their shared upbringing. “We were pushed academically our whole lives,” she said. “There was definitely an emphasis on education when we were younger, but as we got older, we started holding ourselves to our own high standards.” Giovanna describes Lisette as driven, ambitious, and disciplined, noting her ability to balance multiple responsibilities while maintaining her sense of individuality. “She’s very unique,” Giovanna said. “She loves to exercise her free will and be random. In general, she is just a very good person, she does well with letting things go and roll off her back and I admire her for that.”
Teachers have also recognized Lisette’s exceptional qualities. Jennifer Broadwell, an FFA Advisor and Agriculture teacher at Millbrook, described Lisette as an outstanding student with a remarkable work ethic. “Lisette has continuously grown throughout her high school years, developing into a confident leader and an influential member of her school community,” Broadwell said. “She brings a positive, determined, and encouraging energy to the classroom.” Broadwell further highlights that Lisette has served as President of the Black Student Union and the Société Honoraire de Français, Secretary of the Student Equity Team, and an active member of several honor societies. “Her ability to balance rigorous coursework, extracurricular activities, and a part-time job is a testament to her strong time management and work ethic.”
Emilia Casteneda, a teammate of Lisette’s on the Millbrook tennis team, praised Lisette’s kindness and ability to make others feel included. “She always found ways to make practice more enjoyable and made sure everyone felt included,” Emilia said. “Her strong work ethic has inspired me to work for greater success in school.”
Lisette has excelled academically and personally, her presence at Millbrook was proven precious. She will continue to inspire and lead through college and her future career. Lisette has continuously grown throughout her high school years, developing into a confident leader and an influential member of her school community.
