Emma Creel has a plan.
She will attend LSU in the fall to study secondary education with a focus on mathematics. She hopes to one day return to Destrehan High School to teach math.
“Ever since I was little, I was always asked what I what to be when I grew up,” Creel said. “I would answer, ‘a teacher,’ without a second thought.”
Through the Educators Rising program at the Satellite Center, Creel earned college credits toward her education degree.
“Educators Rising has taught me how to handle my classroom and students in multiple ways and how to create the best school environment,” she said. “We learn about how to reach the diverse needs of every student in your classroom, because not everyone learns the same. This class helped me put my future classroom in perspective and taught me how it should look like, feel like, and smell like.”
Creel said that through the continuous guidance and support of the Satellite Center staff, she learned that teaching is her passion.
“[The program] teaches you the amount of leadership and work that gets put into teaching,” she said. “I know that teaching is what I want to do with my life.”
Creel described her experience at DHS as eventful and exciting. She was a member of the Destrehan girls’ volleyball team all four years, and her senior year she was awarded 2nd Team All District, Academic All-State 2025 5A/DIV 1 Team, and Louisiana All-Academic Divisional Team.
“Volleyball has always been part of my life,” she said. “And my love [for the sport] grew stronger as I played with my teammates [at DHS].”
She said volleyball taught her multiple life lessons that she uses on and off the court.
“Volleyball has taught me how to be a leader, how to be responsible, how to take constructive criticism, and how to time manage,” Creel said. “Volleyball took a lot of time out of my day, but it taught me how to stay on top of my schoolwork and be an athlete at the same time.”
She said her teammates were encouraging and supportive.
“Working together over the last few years have created bonds between everyone on and off the court,” she said. “They are constantly cheering everyone on and encouraging everyone to hold themselves accountable. We continue to challenge each other to be better which builds a stronger program for the future.”
Creel said DHS offers numerous opportunities for everyone to feel included. In addition to the volleyball team, Creel was a member of the National English Honors Society and Beta Club. She was a Wildcat Ambassador.
“Everyone I’ve come across has supported me through everything,” Creel said. “The faculty and staff at Destrehan helped me prepare for the future and truly want to see me succeed in life.”
Creel, who graduated magna cum laude and who has been on the honor roll and principal’s list, took AP and dual-enrollment courses beginning her sophomore year.
“These classes challenged me academically and showed me how much work needs to be put into classes,” she said. “I was playing volleyball or working after school, and it taught me how to handle my workload to stay on top of my grades. Along with self-discipline, I think my Destrehan teachers helped contribute a lot to my success because they were constantly checking on me and making sure I was doing the right thing. They supported me and helped me when any chance was given.”
She said a moment that meant a lot to her was scholarship night. She received the Picard Scholarship and the Yvonne Roussel or “Mama Shake” Scholarship.
“By being given these scholarships, I felt very accomplished and that my hard work was seen,” she said. “It made me feel appreciative to have a support system and a school system that believed in me.”
