WHS Alumni Spotlight: Desiree (Jones) Emmert
Our WHS Alumni Spotlight is on Desiree (Jones) Emmert, Class of 2001. While in high school Desiree was a peer mediator and participated in volleyball and Track & Field. Her outstanding talent earned Desiree a full scholarship in Track & Field.
Once she graduated from UNC Chapel Hill, Desiree took some time off becoming a new mom and then went back to school for a Masters in Nursing from Xavier University. She is currently working as an RN at the Cincinnati VA Medical Center where she is the Veterans Experience Officer.
From her great memories of pep rallies, dances, and social events in high school, to her experience as a peer mediator and an outstanding athlete, Desiree has charged into her future with confidence and a positive attitude. She told us that the most valuable lesson she learned at WHS was to remove the word “can’t” from her vocabulary, helping her to excel and achieve her goals. Her advice to current WHS students is to take risks (safe and responsible ones), set goals, and push themselves to meet them and that they can do anything they put their minds to.
Desiree shared, “It's hard now even to tell myself I can't do something because I know I can. Even when everything seems wrong in life ,that little belief that you can do anything helps you make it through. Stay strong and keep pushing forward...it can get better each day, just find a way!”. Great words to live by.
Desiree is the mother to 2 great kids, Jelani (15) and Amarriah (2). When she isn’t working out, watching movies, camping, or taking the occasional trip to the beach, you might spot her on one of her runs through Wilmington, so be sure to beep and wave!
We wish you all the best, Desiree!
