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SENIOR STORIES
Thursday, March 3, 2016 - Mason County Journal - Page B-5
By ALEXANDRIA VALDEZ
alexandria@masoncounty, com
When Aurora Gouley played bas-
ketball games, she was spending time
with both of her families. On the court
she competed with her basketball fam-
ily, and whenever she looked to the
stands, it was her morn, dad and other
relatives.
For Gouley, family is all she needs.
"Family is a big part of my life," said
Gouley, a Shelton High School senior.
"They helped me get into sports in the
first place. They help me with anything
really, they'll always be there for me.
So whenever I need them, they'll help
me."
Gouley is one of five children. She
has two older sisters and a brother
who live on their own. She is still living
with a brother along with her parents.
All of her siblings played basketball
and it was the sport to play growing
up. She went to games before she could
walk and when she started walking, a
basketball was put in her hands. Gou-
ley remembered lazy afternoons play-
ing basketball with her dad and learn-
ing the basics.
This year, Gouley and the Shelton
Climbers advanced to the West Central
District 3 tournament for the first time
in seven years. Shelton lost both of its
games to Auburn Mountainview and
Kennedy Catholic. Shelton tied for fifth
in the 3A Narrows League with Mount
Tahoma with a 5-9 league record. Over-
all, the Climbers went 10-12.
Gouley played four years for the
Climbers and it's four years she
wouldn't give back.
"I believe that we ended it on a good
note," Gouley said. "There is nothing
I regret from this season or any sea-
sons really. I'm really happy with how
things turned out and I could say it was
Aurora Gouley played four years for the Shelton High School basketball team.
grandma, who is the reason she wants to go into nursing.
Journal photo by Alexandria Valdez
Gouley wants to be a nurse like her
a good experience for me." parents; there is no one like them," Gou- to be a nurse because of her grandma.
Off the court, Gouley is usually with ley said. "They had eight kids so I have Her grandma always helped people out
her family. Holidays at her grandma's a lot of uncles and now I have a lot of no matter what the circumstances.
house are serious matters for the Gou- cousins. We have a big family, and it's "She helps people not just for a bet-
ley family. At Christmas, she said cool that a big family can be close like ter reputation," Gouley said. "She helps
there are so many people packed into that because some big families move out them because she truly feels that's
the house it's difficult to find a seat. Ev- and don't' see each other often." what she should do. I just want to be
ery holiday is spent with family. But one of her biggest role modelslike her. If I'm half as good as she is,
"I'm just so thankful for my grand- is her grandma. Gouley said she wants then Ill be set."
By ALEXANDRIA VALDEZ
alexandria@masoncoun com
Mark Vernon isn't afraid of blood.
He doesn't squirm at the idea of op-
erating on someone and he doesn't go
green at the pressure he'd face to save
someone's life.
The Shelton High School senior is
looking forward to 13 more years of
school as he pursues his dream of being
either an emergency room or intensive
care unit doctor.
"I think it's awesome to be able to
save the lives of people," Vernon said. "I
don't know if I want to be an emergen-
cy room or intensive care doctor. The
emergency room keeps people alive and
saves them. But ICU is getting them
back to normal health, I think helping
people out generally and keeping them
alive would be really rewarding and
satisfying."
On the basketball court, Vernon
gained valuable lessons thatwill carry
into his medical career. This year, Ver-
non was a team captain for the Climb-
ers.
i "Leadership would be a big part,"
Vernon said. "You'd be in charge of a
unit in the hospital, so you'd have to be
able to organize everybody and tell peo-
ple where to go and what to do. The fact
that you also have to react under pres-
sure and in any situation that could
arise, you have to think of a solution
and start to react that way. You have to
fix the problem without that much time
of planning things out."
The Highclimbers missed the West
Central District 3 tournament after
competing in it last season for the first
time in more than 10 years. Shelton
fmished tied for sixth in the 3A Nar-
rows League and had a 3-11 league re-
Journal photo by Alexandria Valdez
Mark Vernon learned valuable leadership lessons as a team captain this year for the Shelton Highclimbers. Vernon
plans on using these leadership skills in the medical field as an emergency room or ICU doctor.
cord. Overall, the team went 6-14.The brain and heart are the two ing to college for four years to get his
Vernon was inspired to become a most important organs, Vernon said. pre-med degree. Then it's four years in
doctor by his family. He said the field "I like the brain and just how it medical school, a three-year residency
requires him to be ready for any- works and all the nerve endings and all and then a two-year fellowship. He ad-
thing, but he would like to special- the neurons," Vernon said. "It makes mitted the most challenging partwould
ize in either cardiology or neurology, you who you are and it's how you func- be staying in school an additional nine
His cousin, whom he first shadowed, tion. The heart just keeps you alive and years after pre-med.
died of a heart attack while he was pumps blood throughout your whole Vernon said he has been accepted to
working. A couple of Vernon's cous- body, That's the most important thing Washington State University, but he
ins have had strokes and seizures as you could have." is still waiting to hear back from other
well. The first step for Vernon will be go- colleges.