Published: June 06, 2009 10:44 pm      

Eastern commencement today

GREENTOWN — Courtney Donham was always one of those girls who liked to style her dolls’ hair.

Now at 18, she styles hair for a living.

Today, Donham will be among the 94 students and three foreign exchange students graduating from Eastern High School. Commencement is at 2 p.m. in the gym. Timothy Alan Price Jr. is valedictorian, and Michael Richard Harvath is salutatorian.

Donham moved to Greentown from Austin, Texas, her freshman year, leaving behind difficult home circumstances, she said, to live with her aunt, Chennel Lindsay. Prior to that, she lived with her father, and her mother was never part of her life. Her father later committed suicide, she said.

“I grew up in a horrible environment. Ever since then, I’ve been determined to be somebody. I’ve always been determined to be nothing like my parents,” she said.

At Eastern High School, she applied herself to her studies and made good grades. She played volleyball for four years and was a manager for the wrestling team for two years.

Two years ago, Donham enrolled in the Kokomo Area Career Center’s cosmetology program. This year, she is the Student of the Year for the two-year program. She finished all her requirements for her license in February, and is working at Solutions Day Spa.

Donham said she is in the salon’s associate program, meaning she works as an assistant to another stylist while continuing to learn.

“It’s a really good program. They teach you a lot.”

She’s proud of her success, saying there aren’t many successful people in her family.

“My aunt has kind of started it. She’s in college now,” Donham said.

Donham said she may move to a larger city to continue her career at some point. She said she’s learned from the circumstances she has overcome to always think about the next step.

“I’ve had to grow up fast,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to be looking ahead to the future. I feel like I can actually make a difference. I like making people feel good about themselves.”

• Danielle Rush is the Kokomo Tribune education reporter. She can be reached at (765) 454-8585 or danielle.rush@kokomotribune.com.