Payton Waters is a senior at Parkersburg South High School where she is the president of the National Honor Society, a member of the Key Club and takes AP classes as she focuses on a future in medicine. (Photo Provided)

PARKERSBURG — Payton Waters, a senior at Parkersburg South High School, embodies the true spirit of community service and views it as more than just an extracurricular activity.

“I’ve always been a community-first person,” Waters said. “I think it’s important to serve your community if you’re able to.”

As an active member of Key Club at South, Waters said she has been participating in various meaningful activities that connect high school students with younger community members. She said one of the club’s recent highlights was their involvement in Read Across America day at Lubeck Elementary School.

“We went to Lubeck Elementary for their Dr. Seuss day,” Waters said. “We set up stations and helped kids with activities like a fishing game where children would throw a line and catch a goldfish.”

She said the event was more than just fun and games – it was about creating connections and being positive role models to the younger students.

Payton Waters prepares to head to Parkersburg South High School in August for the first day of her senior year. Waters will be attending Marshall University in the fall where she has been accepted into the BSMD (Bachelor of Science/Medical Doctor) program. (Photo Provided)

“I think it’s really great that kids in the community have good role models,” Waters said. “We’re able to be in the classrooms and be with them.”

She said she particularly enjoys interacting with the younger children, noting their enthusiasm and openness.

“They’ll just go up to you and have a full-blown conversation, even though they just met you. It’s adorable,” Waters said.

Waters is also the National Honor Society president at South. She said her responsibilities include careful planning and coordination while organizing events, coordinating group activities and working closely with advisor Kathryn Nester to guide meeting agendas.

“Being president is a lot of work sometimes, but I really like it,” Waters said.

Payton Waters, left, celebrates her 18th birthday on Dec. 15 at Olive Garden with her cousin Baylee Moore and other family members. (Photo Provided)

She said they recently had a Valentine’s Day event that involved a creative approach to spreading joy.

“We worked with elementary school teachers to have students create letters,” Waters said. “The kids filled out cards during their classroom parties, and we distributed hundreds of letters to nursing homes and veterans.”

Waters said the society also helped with Jackson Middle School’s Fall Family Festival in Oct. where she dressed up as Belle from “Beauty and the Beast.” She said she believes these experiences are crucial for personal growth and community engagement.

“It feels great to serve your community. I believe everybody should be involved in something,” Waters said. “To be able to go out and see kids happy and excited to do something – it feels really great.”

Outside of school, Waters has been volunteering at Camden-Clark Medical Center for the past two to three years where she said she has discovered her passion for healthcare through her experiences.

Payton Waters dressed as Belle from “Beauty and the Beast” when the Parkersburg South High School National Honor Society visited Jackson Middle School in Oct. to help with the Fall Festival and to take pictures with students. (Photo Provided)

“I think that anybody who wants to work in a hospital setting should volunteer,” Waters said. “It’s been one of the best experiences for me, and it made me sure that’s what I wanted to do with my life.”

She said her volunteer duties are diverse, ranging from patient interactions to behind-the-scenes support.

“We usually go into patients’ rooms and just have conversations,” Waters said. “I love when it’s older patients, and they remember their times as candy stripers. I just love seeing people reminisce and talk about their lives.”

We also make staff lives easier by filling out packets and handling the little intricacies in the hospital that people don’t think about.”

Waters was recently accepted into Marshall University’s competitive BSMD (Bachelor of Science/Medical Doctor) program which was a moment of pure excitement for her.

Payton Waters, a senior at Parkersburg South High School, poses for her senior picture in a Marshall University shirt. Waters was accepted in the BSMD (Bachelor of Science/Medical Doctor) program at the university and plans to study Obstetrics and Gynecology with a pediatric emphasis, or Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology (PAG), which is a subspecialty within OB/GYN that focuses on the gynecological health of children and adolescents. (Photo Provided)

“I jumped up and down,” Waters said. “I ran downstairs and told my family – it was the most exciting thing that’s happened to me in a while.”

Waters said she plans to study Obstetrics and Gynecology with a pediatric emphasis, or Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology (PAG), which is a subspecialty within OB/GYN that focuses on the gynecological health of children and adolescents. She said the seven-year program represents more than just an educational opportunity – it’s a pathway to addressing critical healthcare needs right here at home.

“I’d like to stay in West Virginia,” Waters said. “The state is very underserved, especially when it comes to women’s health, so I think it’s important to have people who want to be here.”

Waters said her mission to transform women’s healthcare was driven by personal experiences and a deep commitment to addressing medical inequities.

“I’ve gone to many doctors and seen that sometimes people don’t really listen to you,” Waters said. “I want to create a healthcare environment where women feel heard and understood. Especially for younger patients who are often overlooked or dismissed.”

Payton Waters, right, drives her sister Reece Waters around in a Barbie jeep in 2011. Payton, a senior at Parkersburg South High School, said not much has changed as she drives her sister, who is a sophomore, to school everyday. (Photo Provided)

Waters playfully describes herself as a “Swiftie,” and said attending a Taylor Swift concert is an experience that is more than just about the music. She said it was also a unique social platform where strangers connected instantly.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been in a place where you just go up to somebody random and be like, ‘hey, we’re friends now,'” Waters said. “You get to talk to so many people and just trade bracelets. I have a whole bag of them at my house now from trading with people. I have no idea where they came from, but I know that I got them.”

Waters said faith plays a significant role in her life. She said it provides a sense of reassurance during challenging times.

“Knowing that there’s something out there that’s more important has been comforting,” Waters said. “I believe that God has a plan, and it’s gotten me through by remembering that no matter what’s happening right now there’s a reason for it.”

Douglass Huxley can be reached at dhuxley@newsandsentinel.com

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A Glance at Payton Waters

*Senior at Parkersburg South High School

* President of the National Honor Society

* Joined NHS as a sophomore, became an officer this year

* Responsibilities include: – Planning events – Organizing group activities – Communicating with members – Helping prepare meeting minutes

* Recently completed a Valentine’s letter project for nursing homes and veterans

* Member of the Key Club

Participated in activities such as: – Read Across America event at Lubeck Elementary – Helping with elementary school field day – Creating and distributing Valentine’s letters – Upcoming Easter egg hunt involvement

* Focused on academic excellence

* Taking AP classes: – AP Civics – AP English (AP Literature) – Dual credit human anatomy

* Part of all AP and honors classes

* Accepted into the BSMD (Bachelor of Science/Medical Doctor) program at Marshall University

* Plans to study Obstetrics and Gynecology with a pediatric emphasis

* Taylor Swift fan (attended Eras Tour in Pittsburgh)

* Volunteers at Camden-Clark Medical Center

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Payton Waters on her first day of kindergarten in 2011 at Skyview Elementary in Morgantown. (Photo Provided)

Payton Waters, left, dressed as Belle from “Beauty and the Beast” when the Parkersburg South High School National Honor Society visited Jackson Middle School in Oct. to help with the Fall Festival and to take pictures with students. (Photo Provided)

Payton Waters helps students at Lubeck Elementary during Dr. Seuss Day in March. Waters and members of the Parkersburg South High School Key Club visited the elementary to help students with learning activities. (Photo Provided)

Payton Waters, center, has been a part of the volunteer program at Camden Clark for years and said it has sparked her passion for healthcare and cemented her decision to pursue a career in medicine after graduation. Also pictured are: Audrey Smith, Mylee Brown, Pallavi Sundaram and Gracie Voss. (Photo Provided)

Payton Waters, front row, third from the right, poses for a picture with new inductees to the Parkersburg South High School National Honor Society in December. Waters is the president of the society and led the ceremony welcoming the new students. (Photo Provided)