BUFORD, Ga. — Whether she is cheering from the sidelines, playing soccer, working on an art project or singing along to a Taylor Swift song, Buford Senior Academy student Charlee Johnson brings plenty of energy and creativity to the things she enjoys.
Charlee is involved in both cheerleading and soccer, giving her opportunities to stay active, work as part of a team and remain connected with her classmates.
Cheerleading allows her to combine school spirit with teamwork and performance, while soccer gives her another outlet for competition and the chance to continue developing her skills on the field.
Those who know Charlee might describe her as sassy, honest and kind. She is not afraid to speak her mind, but she also has a caring side that often comes through in the things she creates for others.
“I like making things for people because it makes them happy, and I get to make it however I want,” Charlee said with a smile. “And I really like sparkly things.”
Outside of sports, Charlee enjoys expressing her creativity through arts and crafts.
Her projects often go beyond simple drawings. With her own sewing machine, Charlee makes clothes for her dolls, combining imagination with a practical skill that allows her to turn her ideas into something tangible.
She also enjoys painting and has created colorful canvases for members of her family. The handmade artwork gives Charlee another way to express herself while making something personal for the people closest to her.
At home, Charlee shares the Buford school experience with her older brother, Ryland, an eighth-grade student.
Like many siblings, the two do not always agree, and Charlee is quick to share exactly how she feels about having an older brother.
“Ryland is a good brother, but he can be really annoying,” Charlee said. “Especially when he tries to tell me what to do.”
When asked to name her favorite person, Charlee does not hesitate: her Aunt Jessie, Jessica Wilson, publisher of The North Gwinnett Voice.
For Charlee, however, the title is not what matters.
“She’s just Aunt Jessie,” Charlee said. “I get to drink coffee with her and stay up late and talk about things.”
When asked about someone she would love to meet, Charlee did not choose a movie star, professional athlete or even Taylor Swift. Instead, she named longtime Buford community leader Phillip Beard.
Charlee first learned about Beard and his contributions to Buford while studying him in school. As part of the lesson, she made thank-you cards for him to show her appreciation for the ways he has supported Buford schools and the community.
“I know all about him from school and everyone, but I have never met him yet,” Charlee said.
Beard has remained someone Charlee considers a role model since she first learned about him in first grade. His example of giving back and helping others made an impression on her at a young age — enough that meeting him still ranks high on her list years later.
Charlee’s combination of athletics, creativity and enthusiasm makes for a busy life at Buford Senior Academy.
One day may involve schoolwork and soccer, while another could include cheerleading, sewing a new outfit for one of her dolls, painting a canvas or spending time singing her favorite songs.
Those different interests reflect a student who enjoys trying new things and putting her own personality into whatever she does.
For Charlee, that means bringing energy to cheerleading and soccer, imagination to her art and sewing projects, kindness to the people around her and just enough sass and honesty to make sure everyone knows exactly who she is.
