Heber Springs senior Eva Orr charts the enlist path, heads FCCLA and eyes West Point
Heber Springs, Ark. (KATV) — As Career and Technical Education Month wraps up in February, one Heber Springs senior is already counting down to her next big step: West Point.
Eva Orr, a senior at Heber Springs, chose the “enlist” path and serves as the national president of the FCCLA chapter. Orr said she’s excited to head to the U.S. Military Academy after graduation, even if it comes with a few nerves.
“I’m really excited, you know, a little nervous, just because I don’t know, you know what all that entails, to an extent, but I’m really excited, and I know that everything is, you know, it’s going to be hard, but it’s definitely going to be worth it in the end,” Orr said.
Orr said her interest in FCCLA started early, inspired by her mother’s involvement in the organization when she was in high school. She said she joined in seventh grade and found it matched both her community-minded goals and her career ambitions.
As national president, Orr said she has traveled across the country this school year, meeting new people and building connections. “I’ve gotten to travel the whole nation this school year. I’m getting to meet so many new people,” she said, adding that networking has been one of the best parts of the experience.
Her year has also included some standout moments. Orr said that during FCCLA week, she spoke with Drew Barrymore and asked for career advice. She also said she had the opportunity to lay a wreath at the Tomb of an Unknown Soldier.
Orr said FCCLA and other CTE experiences helped her prepare for the competitive process of applying to West Point, including the requirement to secure a congressional nomination. She said she gained confidence through FCCLA’s competitive event job interview, where she practiced communication and interview skills.
“And whenever I walked into that interview for my nomination, I was so confident in my ability to present myself well, and I was fortunate enough to receive not just one nomination at West Point, but three with those skills I’ve learned,” Orr said.
Looking beyond West Point, Orr said she has her sights set on another high-profile role: White House press secretary. She said the job inspires her because it involves working closely with the president and the press, and she believes FCCLA has helped her develop public speaking skills.
“That’s just the job really inspires me. I mean, kind of intrigues me, you know, getting to work so close with the President, and then also the press, kind of being, you know, being that middle man,” Orr said.
For younger students considering FCCLA leadership or the enlist path, Orr kept her advice simple: “I would definitely just say, do it. You know you’re you’ll regret, regret it if you don’t.”
Orr said she heads to West Point on June 29. “That’s our day,” she said. “And so the countdown is on.”