- April 28, 2024
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Looking at Darien Halliday’s 4.48 grade point average and her dual enrollment at Daytona State College does not reveal the amount of difficulty that it takes for her to stay focused and succeed in class.
As a kid, Halliday learned that she had a learning disability, attention deficit hyperactive disorder. While at school, she found it hard to keep up with her classmates, often turning her work in last or not being able to write down all the teacher’s notes. Halliday would often get teased about her slow working rate, not to mention that she was a bad reader.
“I would cry, if I was called on to read,” Halliday said. “With both of my parents being teachers, we worked on my reading skills forever. I was always reading books, food menus, anything.”
As Halliday continued to grow, she eventually learned how to stay focused on her school work and other projects, though she may occasionally slip into an episode. Now, while it still takes her longer than her classmates to complete tests and other work, she’s not as bothered about it the way she was in grade school, because she’s excelling, not only in reading but all her advanced classes.
“ADHD still makes things a lot harder for me, but when I started making A’s and B’s it middle school, it made me really happy,” she said. “It made my parents happy, and I always wanted to succeed from there.”
Halliday has excelled from middle school to become one of the most well-rounded student athletes in high school. While she does dual enrollment, taking all AP classes, Halliday is also involved in clubs such as the Student Government Association, National Honor Society, Project Brain Child Tutoring, Student Athletic Advisory Council, she was chosen by Principal Lynette Shott to be Flagler Palm Coast Student School Board’s representative.
“She (Shott) actually asked me because I’m in so many things, so she believed that I would be the best voice,” Halliday said. “I feel special and honored that Mrs. Shott asked for me.”
On top of her student body responsibilities, Halliday still finds time to run track, cross country, where she and her father, coach David Halliday, were awarded October’s Rotary Club Student Athlete and Coach of the Month, and compete in weightlifting.
“I was very surprised,” she said about the award. “I was happy, but I had no idea it was coming my way.”
“It’s always nice to be recognized for your hard work,” coach Halliday said. “She really embodies the term “student athlete,” and it’s nice to see her get rewarded for it.” The Hallidays just finished up cross country, where FPC won conference championships for both boys and girls.
Halliday just began weightlifting season, and she is looking to break her own records in the 101-pound division. She is the sole record holder for both bench and clean and jerk.
Last year, she shocked herself and others, when she bench pressed 100 pounds, well above her weight.
“My mom always told me that I was a freakishly, strong kid,” Halliday said. “It was something that I never even attempted before. It felt magical.”
Her moment came to an abrupt end, when another competitor lifted 105 pounds to knock Halliday out of a state finals bid.
“After lifting more than I’ve ever had, and to see it happen like that…,” she paused. “I walked out of the gym into the hallway, and I just cried. My mom found me and held me. She made me feel better because she made me realize that I had one more year and that I did do something that was amazing.”
“Darien is an outstanding student and is a very hard working athlete,” said coach Duane Hagstrom, Halliday’s weightlifting coach. “She splits her time in three sports. If she were able to lift year around, she would no doubt be a state champion, possibly multiple times.”
Nevertheless, Halliday’s time is branched out to many different things, which include volunteer work. When she isn’t competing in sports or handling the student body, Halliday makes time for the SAFFARI, a no-kill animal shelter and the TRAIL Program, a program run by her mother, Kimberli Halliday, for kids with disabilities who have graduated from high school.
“The Trial Program and Project Brain Child Tutoring is something I wanted to do because it is something I had to go through with my learning disabilities,” Halliday said. “I supposed if I could figure out how to overcome it, I could help other kids overcome their challenges.”
About his daughter’s current busy schedule, coach Halliday said, “She is just a well-rounded kid, and she has such a big heart.”
