By Chris Yow
Editor
PINSON — When Aliyah Curry was crowned Pinson Valley High School’s Homecoming queen last year, she knew she wouldn’t be there when it was her turn to crown the new queen. The reason wasn’t because she had a vacation scheduled or was moving off to college, however; it was because she made the decision to join the Army National Guard.
For the first time in at least ten years, the previous homecoming queen was not there to crown the next year’s queen, but sponsor Erin DeArman had no objections.
“I told her not to worry about it, and that I would invite her back to fulfill her duties,” DeArman said.
Curry has now traded her crown for a Hazmat suit, as she is training to become a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) specialist.
She will graduate her Advanced Individual Training (AIT) in three weeks on Nov. 19.
Joining the Army National Guard wasn’t something Curry set out to do and planned for several years, in fact, she only took the ASVAB test just for fun.
“My junior year, I took the ASVAB just to see what I would score,” she said.
Apparently her score was good.
“When my senior year came, and me and my parents were talking about college and money, I told them I took the ASVAB and made a pretty good score and I’ve been thinking about joining the National Guard,” she admitted.
The news didn’t set well with her father at first, but after some convincing from her mother, Curry’s parents came around.
“It started out for college and the money, but it turned into something bigger than that. Especially when I got here and in training, it turned into not just being about the money,” she said.
Curry will be a 74 Delta, CBRN Specialist, once she completes the training, and will then begin her college education at Alabama State University, where she plans to major in biology. She then plans to continue her education at Auburn University and become a pharmacist.
Friday night when Norma Contreras was crowned homecoming queen by 2010 queen Lauren Garrett, it crossed Curry’s mind that she wouldn’t be there to experience that, but it didn’t bother her much.
“I was a little upset because it’s a big thing. When I was crowned, the previous queen was there to crown me. I was upset I wouldn’t get my time to shine, but I knew I was doing something way bigger than myself,” Curry said.
DeArman said she wasn’t surprised that Curry expressed putting others first.
“The amount of emphasis she places on making sure what she chooses to do is not for personal gain. The choices she makes have always been more mature and any person I know. She has an amazing amount of understanding for what it takes to be a leader,” DeArman said.
In addition to her ability to lead, DeArman also gave high praise for Curry’s ability to win over others and to care for them.
“She has a remarkable ability to win over anyone,” DeArman said. “If I had to be around a chemical natural disaster, Aliyah would be the first person I would want to help. She takes the big scope and breaks things down to make it achievable. She will take care of anyone under her care, and they would be in great hands.”