As we embark on the 2017-2018 school year, many Chapin High students are eager for the fresh start to the new school year. Neatly pressed notebooks and a brand new pack of pencils along with other pristine school supplies spill from student back packs along with intentions of staying organized throughout the year. 

High school is a time marked by the discovery of new interests and exploring potential career paths amongst teenagers worldwide. The actions taken during the course of these four years have the ability to shape future aspirations and make them a reality which is evident in the campaign of Shayla Flores to be the next mayor of Chapin.

Shayla Flores, a Chapin alumnus, graduated in 2015 as Chapin High School’s student body president. She participated in student council for six years after discovering her immense passion for the program in sixth grade. Flores has always thought highly of her small hometown and combined that passion with her dreams to hold a position in politics.

On August 11th, Shayla welcomed Chapin residents to Doza Rizen Cafe where she discussed the focuses of her campaign including the growth of the small town and local unemployment.

If elected into this position, Flores will be the youngest female mayor in US History, the youngest mayor in South Carolina History, and Chapin’s first female mayor. She encourages all students to get involved in their local government and play a part in their community. Flores says “being young isn’t a bad thing, we need more smart and hard working young people in politics and I hope that every student will have huge dreams and work like crazy to make them come true”.

Flores was given the opportunity in high school to work closely with the school board, local government and chamber of commerce to provide student representation on a larger scale. Assuming the role of student body president enhanced her love of the Chapin community and may as well be the reason she is participating in the mayoral campaign today.

Although Shayla Flores has since graduated and attended her first years of college, her heartbeat still belongs to the halls of Chapin High School when she comments that “if you work hard, learn everything you can about what you want to do, and do everything out of love and for the good of your neighbor there is nothing that you can’t do”.