Editor’s note: The Future Leaders of America series profiles high school seniors who display leadership qualities in their school and the community. The series is brought to you by Pridemark Construction.
By Stacey A. Shannon—
MUNCIE, IN—Throughout her high school years at Burris Laboratory School, senior Dorothy Eads has worn numerous hats along with a smile and a can-do attitude. She’s tried everything from scuba diving to circus to gymnastics outside of school.
The former homeschooler who started at Burris in seventh grade has strong school spirit and appreciates her time at Burris.
Eads has been a member of concert choir for six years and has served as costume manager for the past three, even building a database to organize the entire wardrobe. She’s also been president of Fellowship of Christian Athletes all four years of high school. As a senior, she joined the dive team for the first time, what she calls her “senior side quest,” and won a few meets along the way.
“I love just celebrating others and just celebrating the things…because this is a really special school,” Eads said. “I’m obsessed with it.”
This year, the bulk of Eads’ schedule is shaped by Burris’ Pathways program, which lets seniors spend half their day in an internship, job, independent study or cadet teaching. Eads built her own placement, securing a spot as a braider at a Black-owned beauty shop in Muncie. She wanted training in textures beyond the ones taught in cosmetology school.
“I wanted to be a stylist that didn’t just know how to do white hair,” she said. “I wanted to be able to do all hair.”
The internship has become her proudest accomplishment of the past year. She built her own clientele, reaching out to single moms in college through a local nonprofit and cold-messaging Ball State University athletes through Instagram to offer free braids while she practiced. She is now booking five clients in a week.
“That was the thing that nobody helped me with,” Eads said. “I went and I found it.”
Her approach to opportunity comes in part from her dad, a former career coach.
“Connections will get you further than any degree will,” she said, repeating his advice.
Outside of school, Eads has spent years at Muncie Civic Theater, where she performed before moving to tech crew running sound, lighting and quick changes. She now works there part time in the box office and concessions. She also watches children at her church, nannies in the summer and once juggled four jobs at the same time.
Staying on top of it all takes effort. Eads relies on Google Calendar and the time-management habits she developed during her homeschooling years, when her mother let her plan her own daily schedule starting at age 5. She maintains a GPA above 4.0 while managing dyslexia and an eye convergence deficiency.
“Your disabilities become your superpowers sometimes,” she said. “I feel like my work ethic and my organization skills are probably very due to my disability.”
After graduation, Eads will work at Camp Tecumseh this summer before starting at Summit Hair Salon Academy in Anderson in September to earn her cosmetology license. She plans to live at home, save for a down payment and eventually own a house in her 20s.
Her advice to students coming up behind her reflects the way she’s approached high school herself — with curiosity and a willingness to leap.
“Do it scared. Do it tired. Do it happy. Do it in the morning. But do it,” Eads said. “Take the leap and ask questions. Always ask questions. You never know what opportunities you can get if you just ask.”
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