EHOVE, Marg. grad never gave up on life, herself

CASTALIA — She's always loved animals. And she's also developing a deeper appreciation for humans thanks to educators who helped her get through some difficult times in life. From these passions, upon entering adulthood, Abby Miller desires to care for others — as so many did for her — by pursuing a career where she can assist all living beings. On June 1, Abby represented one of 83 graduates who received a diploma from Margaretta High School. Prior to this, she also graduated from EHOVE Career Center, concentrating her studies there in the criminal justice realm. "Senior year, honestly, it was my favorite year," said Abby, specifically referring to her time at EHOVE. "I had really good teachers and classmates. I got along with all of them. I felt like I truly belonged there. I had a place to be, and my teachers made me feel welcomed." Abby couldn't stop smiling when talking about her potential careers. One path she could travel down would likely incorporate her criminal justice background, which could springboard into some sort of law enforcement-focused job, protecting people who can't otherwise defend themselves. "Those classes gave me confidence," Abby said. "I learned jiu-jitsu. I know ways to pin someone down. Those classes taught me how to take care of myself." Or she could follow a lifelong dream of working with animals as a veterinary technician. She looks after many animals at her home. The list includes a bunny, chickens, five cats and a fish while helping her siblings care for their pair of geckos and guinea pigs. "I've always gotten along much better with animals than I have with people," Abby said. "They make me happy, and I want to help them in the best way I can. They're my friends, too." In fact, this summer, Abby's working at the Watering Hole Safari and Water Park at Monsoon Lagoon where she's working with both animals and people. "I'm a zookeeper. I take care of the animals like zebras, kangaroos, wallabies, miniature pigs and more," she said. She's going to spend this summer attempting to figure out her next major decision in life. Abby's overly ecstatic about these endless possibilities, considering, just a few years ago, walking across the stage, obtaining a diploma and having the freedom to pick a job seemed more like a dream than reality. Reliving tragedy In 2019, while traveling with her family — which included her brother, Braxton, and her sisters, Hailey and Penelope — Abby sustained major injuries in a life-altering car crash. "We were driving down to Youngstown to stay the weekend. The last thing I remember is my brother was sitting upright with a book in his lap, and I had my head down. I was playing with my dolls and fell asleep with my head on the window," said Abby, noting how she was a passenger. "The next thing I remember, I woke up in a hospital bed and asked, 'Why the hell am I here? What happened?" Based on bystanders recounting what occurred, Abby's car collided with two others in a chain reaction-type incident. "When we got to the hospital, I heard conflicting stories: Some said I wasn't awake. Others said I was awake and had to be put to sleep because I was screaming so much," said Abby, who was actually intubated due to her excruciating pain. Each sibling sustained a varying degree of injuries: • Abby broke her hip and experienced a major concussion. • Penelope broke her big toe. • Hailey broke her nose, sustained facial injuries and also experienced a concussion. • Braxton became paralyzed from the mid-chest area down due to incapacitating spinal injuries. To this day, he needs a wheelchair to get around. "I just have no recollection of what happened," said Abby, who still has pins in her hip and a scar around this area. "I hit my head so hard that it's like my brain reverted to me being a toddler. I needed a walker and needed to learn how to walk again." All this occurred during Abby's time in middle school. She needed to relearn basic skills, such as adding single digits together and telling time on a clock. Because of this, she couldn't participate in extracurriculars with her other peers, like FFA-related activities, which left many — including Abby — wondering how her high school career would play out if at all. "It was so frustrating and annoying," Abby said. "Every morning, I had to leave to do my physical therapy, and I couldn't be a part of what my classmates were doing." Overcoming the odds Through her unwavering relentlessness and sheer grit in therapy, Abby not only began walking just a few short months after this accident but also found her stride elsewhere. Following COVID-19, her biggest accomplishment involved acing an advanced algebra test. "I was really proud of myself for that," Abby said. This parlayed into her first of many honor rolls she made during her four years in high school. Abby also juggled her academics with 4-H activities and much time spent in the marching band, playing trumpet for Margaretta. "My favorite thing in high school was Friday nights and playing in the marching band for football games," Abby said. "There is just this wave of sensation while you are on the field. You are performing and having fun and getting to, at times, goof off with your good friends. It was so much fun." She impressed many teachers, and those who knew her backstory gained even more admiration for Abby. "Despite the difficulties she had following the accident, and after becoming a student at EHOVE, she continued her participation in band all the way through graduation, which is a testament to her determination and commitment to the group," said Adam Reardon, Margaretta's longtime band director. "She has had the opportunity to experience many things during her years in band through performance travel, which has allowed for personal growth, building relationships with her peers and helping to develop her sense of independence, all of which have helped her to become the person she is today," he added. "It was especially gratifying to see her be able to share her time in band with her brother, Braxton, during her senior year and see them perform together on the marching field and concert stage," Reardon said. "I believe this determination to succeed will help her to be successful in her future endeavors." While Abby fully recovered, she understands Braxton, a rising sophomore at Margaretta, hasn't and might never. "I know this is very hard for him. He was a very good wrestler and baseball player, and now he can't do that," Abby said. "I just want him to know that I'll always be there for him. And I'm thankful for his good friends that he has." Abby hopes Braxton and others can follow her advice for triumphing through tragedy. "I always told myself 'Keep trying' and 'Don't give up,'" Abby said. "I've learned that life will eventually get better. You just have to find the right places and right people to be around to help you. It might take a couple of months. It might take a few years. But it will get better." Speaking up Many of Abby's teachers at EHOVE Career Center spoke favorably about a student who they collectively said evolved into a well-rounded individual: "When Abby first came to EHOVE's criminal justice program, she was a quiet and reserved student. It didn't take long for her to grow into a confident leader. Through hands-on training and real-world experiences, she gained skills that set her apart and gave her the confidence to pursue her goals. EHOVE and the criminal justice program helped her unlock her potential, opening the door to a bright future and setting her up for long-term success." — Tony Dauch, assistant director at EHOVE Career Center; Prior to this, he served as Abby's criminal justice instructor during her junior year. "Abby developed tremendously as a person over her two years in the EHOVE criminal justice program. She started out very reserved but was an outgoing leader by senior year. Abby is always a fun person to be around, and her unfailing positivity and sense of humor were a tremendous benefit to the program and her peers. We are very proud of her, and we know she will continue to do great things." — Anthony Gibbs, criminal justice instructor "I believe Abby's experience at EHOVE allowed her positive personality and team skills to flourish. She was a positive student for the criminal justice program and brought a lot to the classroom setting by showing others in her class key components to law enforcement: team building and how to always show up for others. No matter what task was at hand, Abby encouraged others to bring their best." — Stacy Robinson, criminal justice instructor