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Hard work pays off for Fort Scott teen
Fort Scott High School senior Phillip Goodbody is reaching for the best this world can offer him, and he is not letting anything or anybody stop him.
Goodbody, who has overcome many hardships during his young life was recently rewarded for his tireless efforts when he was notified that he was chosen as the only Kansas recipient of a $20,000 college scholarship from the Horatio Alger Association. Goodbody is one of only 104 seniors nationally to receive college funds from the group.
The Horatio Alger Association is a non-profit organization that provides scholarship assistance to young people who have triumphed in the face of tribulation.
"Recipients have exhibited integrity, academic promise, and perseverance in overcoming personal adversity," printed information about the association said.
Growing up in a home without proper role models, Goodbody was required to obtain employment at the age of 14. Since that time, Goodbody said he has not been unemployed for longer than 24 hours at a time. For much of his high school career, he has juggled a full-time job and a full school schedule. Goodbody, who was inducted into the gifted program during his second grade year, said his goal is to go to college and possibly obtain employment as either a mechanical or architectural engineer.
"I realize I need school so I can get a job where I'll be more secure and stable. That requires me getting a good education," Goodbody said.
Because Goodbody constantly had to face a great amount of turmoil at home, for a short period of time he wandered down the wrong path. However, after a brief run in with the law, he decided he needed to make a drastic change in his lifestyle. With the help of Fort Scott High School gifted education teacher Diana Endicott, Goodbody began making many positive changes which have allowed him to excel and rise above the adversities he faces on a day-to-day basis.
"I didn't ask for my life to be like that, but I realized I can change it," Goodbody said. "My goal is not to be rich. I just want to be stable."
Goodbody attributes some of his progress to the caring nature of Endicott.
"Mrs. Endicott is a little more caring than other teachers," Goodbody said. "She will pull whatever strings she can to make me successful. If it weren't for being in her class, I would be a high school slug."
According to Endicott, she was only able to provide the assistance Goodbody needed because of his willingness to be helped.
"It was the fact that he wanted to work," Endicott said. "Phillip wanted to learn."
In order to help Goodbody receive the $20,000 scholarship, Endicott submitted a letter of recommendation on his behalf.
"Phillip is a deserving student of this prestigious award," Endicott's letter said. "He has worked very hard in school earning a strong grade point average and maintaining almost full-time employment. He is an impressive young man with promise for a bright future. He has great potential and is willing to put out the extra effort needed to be successful. Phillip is not satisfied with getting by and completing his assignments; he wants to learn from them and strive to be the best he can be. Over the past four years, I've watched Phillip grow into a mature and responsible young man who can and will be successful."
Goodbody said he plans to attend college at the University of Kansas, which will increase the amount of money he receives from the scholarship, because KU will match the $20,000 if he chooses to attend school there.
Even without being awarded the scholarship, Goodbody said he would find a way to attend college as he wants to be a good example to his younger brother. In addition, Goodbody said when he earns his college degree, he will be the first person in his immediate family to have graduated college.
Fort Scott High School principal Bob Beckham said he has a great amount of confidence in Goodbody's abilities to be successful in the future.
"He is a fine young man and a hard working young man," Beckham said. "He's going to be very successful in whatever he sets his mind to."
It's not just academic success that Goodbody has achieved, for he has also triumphed at each of the places he has worked.
In fact, at the age of 16, Goodbody said he was asked to be the manager of the restaurant he was working at. Goodbody, however, denied this request, stating he was not ready for the extra work it would require him to do. For the last three months, Goodbody has been employed with Valu Merchandisers where he has excelled in his job duties, according to his supervisor Kevin Taliaferro.
"He's laid back and pleasant," Taliaferro said. "He always has a good attitude. He's willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done. He's a very dependable kid."
Goodbody said he will do whatever he has to do in order to gain the necessary skills to obtain a good paying job in the future.
"There have been so many obstacles in my life that I would not want my (future) kids to experience," Goodbody said. "They (obstacles) have made me who I am, but I wouldn't wish it upon anyone else."
Goodbody, who has applied for about seven different scholarships, said he expects to hear favorable results from some of the other scholarship opportunities as well.