When asked her favorite color, Bailey Bennett’s response was more than just predictable.

“It would have to be purple,” said the McCurtain High School senior. “It’s a very vibrant and different color that just stands out to me.”

Purple is often associated with a unique individual, a very intuitive person with a good judge of character who exhibits by their actions a special ability to soothe or calm others in times of crisis.

Bailey Bennett is one such person.

“I would say I’m outgoing and confident but the most important trait to me is kindness,” Bailey said with smile. “You never know what’s going on in peoples lives and what they may face each day. Your one comment, kind or rude, could make or break someone’s choice.”

Purple is also akin to someone with ambition and a will to win much like Bennett.

“Personally I am very competitive. In any game I want to win and be successful,” she said. “I grew up with a brother who pushed me to be better. So I take that same mentality into each game I play. I give it everything I have in order to help my team win and achieve my goals.”

Active in BPA, 4-H, and FCA, Bailey is a student council member and senior class secretary. Working from the circle for the Lady Bulldogs slowpitch softball team, Bailey embraces the challenge wearing her number-7 jersey.

“The toughest thing about being the pitcher is that each play revolves around me. I feel a lot of pressure to play good. I want to work hard and succeed for my teammates.”

McCurtain coach Vernon Scarberry agrees.

“She’s always smiling, keeping her teammates up when things aren’t going so well. Bailey will do anything asked of her; she’s a great example on or off the field.”

In everything she does, Bailey strives to be the best. Since day one in the classroom, she has met her assignments determined to find the right answer evidenced by Bailey achieving a 4.38 weighted GPA, good enough to earn valedictorian honors for the 2023 graduating class.

“I’ve worked very hard in the classroom over the past few years by taking many college classes and putting in a lot of hours of hard work,” she said. “Being valedictorian is very important to me because I want to better my future and make my family, as well as my community proud.”

Through all her actions to help others find happiness as well as her own desires, Bailey Bennett is worthy of the color purple and proof that Character Counts.