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BRANCHING OUT

By WENDY SLEDD
Special to Leader-Press

Thirty percent of college and university students drop out after their first year. According to US News and World report, half will never graduate. To the average college freshman, the massive change of transitioning from high school to college can be daunting. But Cove Lady Dawg volleyball star and 2015 CCHS graduate Destinee Branch is anything but average.

Branch is not only leaving for Dallas Christian University in a week to play volleyball, but she will have to determine how she will juggle some heavy responsibilities. In addition to being required to maintain honor grades to keep her scholarship and bring her effort and talent on the court, she will also continue to represent the City of Copperas Cove as Teen Miss Rabbit Fest.

“I'm not nervous about keeping everything in balance with my school work, royalty stuff and volleyball. I have decent planning skills so I think I'll be fine,” Branch said. “I have my priorities straight and I know what the focus is and why God has put me where he has put me.”

While Branch is required to make only one royalty appearance monthly, Branch has represented her pageant title six times in less than a month accruing nearly 30 hours of service since being crowned. Branch is competitive and does not want to miss opportunities. But, that is what makes her a good volleyball player.

“Coach (Cari) Lowery and other coaches taught me and helped me in each every way. But not just in the game of volleyball. The Lady Dawg program taught me plenty of life lessons: leadership, team work and team mindset, trust and responsibility,” the outside hitter said.

Branch was scouted at a club tournament when a representative from Dallas Christian University really liked what she saw and offered Branch a spot on the college team and awarded Branch the Developing Christian Influence Scholarship based on the way she expressed her faith walk with God, her desire to become a teacher and strategies of leadership. 

“My goal was to be at a school that God lead me to, a school where I could really grow in my faith and still play volleyball,” the former Lady Dawg varsity volleyball captain said. “Iwanted to be at a school where I can lead, where there is community and a place close enough that I could get some extra support or advice from my parents at anytime.”

Branch’s weekend is packed with queen appearances for the next two weekends before she moves into her dorm on August 9 and must focus on college life, her grades and the game of volleyball.

“I'm not saying I won't make mistakes or bad choices sometimes, but I promise to learn from them and take all this juggling of priorities as a life lesson,” Branch said. 

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