Heisey: 'In a process of discovery'

COEUR d'ALENE - Parker Heisey isn't sitting on the sidelines of life.

The 18-year-old's high school resume is studded with a diverse array of activities. It is rich with awards and honors, both academic and athletic.

The Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy senior hasn't just been going through the motions, joining teams and groups, to pad his college applications.

"In all honesty, I'm still in a process of discovery. I'm still trying to discover what God's mission is for me," Heisey said.

Along the way, he says he's learning many valuable skills and life lessons, lessons he's eager to share with other young people like himself.

It's an attitude that will serve Heisey well, if he follows the career pursuits he's considering. Although he is open to other possibilities that may unfold, Heisey feels called to leadership, possibly in politics.

"One thing I do know is that I'm passionate about people. I'm passionate about connecting with people in a meaningful way, establishing relationships with them and ultimately helping lead them to their goals and their purpose in life," Heisey said.

He hopes to be accepted into a military academy, and is applying to West Point and the U.S. Air Force Academy.

"I just feel that right now I want to serve my country and just learn a little bit more and appreciate what it means to be free," Heisey said. "I think that all of us that have never served in the military, we can never understand what it means to be free until we've experienced what it takes to preserve that freedom."

He sees military service as a necessary step toward leadership of the nation.

Some of the most profound lessons Heisey has learned as a high school student have come through his participation in the national Congressional Award Program, through his volunteer work and participation in speech and debate.

"One thing that I've really realized these last few months is the power behind having a vision for your future, and then creating a plan day by day to accomplish your goals," Heisey said. "That's what the Congressional Award has taught me. I think it's a great program that many students in our area could get involved in."

A few months ago, Heisey met Congressman Raul Labrador when he received his Bronze Medal. He is now working to achieve a Silver Medal.

"The beautiful thing about the program is that anyone can do it because you make your own goals," Heisey said.

The United States Congress's youth award is nonpartisan, voluntary, and non-competitive. Open to all 14- to 23-year-olds, participants earn Bronze, Silver and Gold Congressional Award Certificates and medals. Each level involves setting goals in four program areas - Volunteer Public Service, Personal Development, Physical Fitness, and Expedition/Exploration. There are no minimum grade point averages required. "In each of these areas you set goals which are attainable for yourself, so it teaches you who you are and what your strengths and weaknesses are," Heisey said.

The list of Heisey's speech and debate accolades is particularly long.

"It's challenged me in so many ways. It's taught me how to think critically about any issue, and it's taught me how to communicate my own opinions and ideas, in an effective way which is meaningful to someone else," Heisey said.

Heisey's volunteer work also stands out.

"That's one thing that I do want to communicate to other students out in the area," Heisey said. "Giving back to your community doesn't have to be something super major. You don't have to make this huge project."

It can be as simple as committing one night a week to help out at a local soup kitchen, Heisey said. He started doing that during his second year of high school, and says it led him to another service experience with Kootenai Health's Teen Volunteer Program.

The program is different from other youth volunteer opportunities, he said.

Now a member of the program's board, Heisey said the teen volunteer program provides experience in a professional medical setting where students are able to learn valuable life and employment skills while donating their time and energy to the community.

"It's taught me how to communicate with different people, from those who are on an emotional high and excited about their new baby to people who are hurting," Heisey said. "That's been a really great experience for me, and that's something I would like to communicate to any high school student out there."

Soccer is another area where Heisey has learned, grown and excelled. He just finished four years lettering on Coeur d'Alene High School's soccer team.

Heisey has also already learned how to run a profitable business. The business card for Parker's Lawn Care includes a tag, "Taking the yawn out of your lawn."

As a child, Heisey's favorite toy was a plastic lawnmower. When his father mowed the lawn, Heisey would be right behind his dad, pushing his "mow-mow."

When he was in fourth grade, Heisey began doing some real lawn mowing for one of his family's neighbors. He built his business each summer, first picking up lawns on his block and then expanding further into the neighborhood.

He would borrow his dad's equipment when he went to work, carrying a blower across his shoulders as he pushed a mower with a weed-eater laid across it to each job.

"Freshman year, I made my first business investment, and that was a yellow wagon," Heisey said.

Heisey also purchased his first car and a truck with his lawn business profits.

"This last summer, I served people all across the community with the truck," Heisey said. "It's been a lot of hard work, but it's paid off."

Despite his many accomplishments, Heisey takes little credit for them.

"I don't think I'm special at all. I think the reason I am who I am is because of the people in my life that have been there for me, mainly my parents," he said.

Heisey said his family has seen its fair share of challenges.

He was born in South Carolina. His father was pastor of a church that failed. The family moved to Iowa and another business failed. They eventually came to live in Idaho to be near family.

"Through all of that, I've really come to admire the perseverance that I see in my dad and the love I see within my mom, and those two things have just made me who I am," Heisey said.

A Bible passage, "Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Act like men. Be strong. Let all that you do be done in love," 1 Corinthians 16:13-14, is one Heisey holds near and dear. He considers it his "life verse" and says it helps guide him.

"One thing I've realized is, we're all looking for a purpose, and in everything we do, we are trying to discover our life mission," Heisey said. "Sometimes, we don't necessarily know what our mission and our purpose here on earth is."

Still, Heisey said, because of his Christian background, he believes that he is meant to accomplish something, even though it's not clear yet what that is.

"The means in which I do that, is simply being diligent with what God's given me today," Heisey said.