Published: May 26, 2007 06:42 pm            

Hard work philosophy pays off

Valedictorian: Nathan Ford

You can say Nathan Ford enjoys discussing ideas and reasons and why people think the way they do, but don’t call him argumentative. The Corsicana valedictorian headed to Baylor on a debate scholarship has eyes on teaching philosophy.

“I really don’t like arguing with people, which is kind of weird,” Ford said. “A lot of people in debate like arguing. I like discussing things with people and discovering the truth.”

The son of Carey and Nancy Ford, Nathan said he learned after his freshman year he was ranked seventh in his class, and knew he had a shot at being the valedictorian. He knew it could mean something more, too, like improved college possibilities.

After his junior year, he had vaulted to No. 1, he said.

“It was kind of surprise,” he said. “I just worked hard through the last years of high school.”

Ford and debate-mate Tim McClure advanced to the state meet twice in their careers, posting a best Top 8 finish as seniors. Corsicana salutatorian Courtney Thompson was also a member of the CHS debate team, and all three are good friends, Ford said.

“Tim and I were debate partners all four years,” Ford said. “Debate for sure (was a highlight), with all of my friends.”

Another highlight was Ford’s work with G-Force, a program started four years earlier by friend and former valedictorian Earnest Alba, and the Go Center. The group works closely with Collins Scholarship director Jim Barnette and tries to assist juniors and seniors with college and scholarship opportunities, Ford said.

“I was president this year,” Ford said, “(and) we worked a lot at financial aid events and college night. Building up the Go Center and making it a place where kids could go to learn was a big deal for me.”

So was the National Honor Society, where Ford also served as president this year.

Ford plans to major in philosophy at Baylor, and ideally will be a professor in that field in the future.

“People are always like, ‘Are you kidding me? Philosophy?,’ he said. “I want to study philosophy, get my doctorate and teach and be a professor. I may write when I get older, but I definitely want to teach at the collegiate level.”

Who’s going to talk him into anything else?

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Raymond Linex II may be contacted via e-mail at rlinex@corsicanadailysun.com

        

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