About Haven!

👋 Hello Friends! I'm Haven Ratcliff, And This is All About Me!

 

I am a nineteen year old first generation college student at Fairmont State University, and my younger self could never have imagined where I am today. I was held back in the first grade, and I grew up hating school. However, in highschool I realized I could take that hatred and turn it into a driving force, recognizing that schools don't have to be scary; but they can be a fun, safe, and exciting place for students, and I want to be the person who gives them that experience. 

 

 

I enjoy reading a good paperback, and I prioritize my physical and mental health in the gym through weightlifting, I absolutely adore the outdoors; anything from hiking to swimming, fishing (especially for trout), riding four wheelers, simply being out in nature. 

 When I realized education was the path for me, my librarian encouraged me to join the Grow Your Own (GYO) program. This program allowed me to take dual-credit education classes while being in high school and gain field experience at out local elementary and intermediate schools. My County later posted a job listing for a  GYO Apprentice, so I applied. I  interviewed a few weeks later and was hired as the Hardy County GYO Apprentice. This accomplishment means a lot to me, not only because of all the valuable experience I've obtained for my future career, but also because my younger self would have been so proud to see me choose a career path in a field where I once had so many doubts about myself.