PORT NECHES — Leah Dismukes has been preparing for the future for a while.

A senior at Port Neches-Groves High School Dismukes plays bass clarinet in the band, serves as drum major, is a member of the National Honor Society, takes part in PNG Prime Time which broadcasts at the school every Friday and competes in University Interscholastic League academics.

Soon she’ll be heading to the University of Texas where she will double major in pubic relations and political science with a goal of becoming a lawyer specializing in constitutional law and maybe one day working for the American Civil Liberties Union.

“I admire that the freedoms we have here in America are protected,” Dismukes said. “If someone takes away the rights of one person what’s to stop that from happening to others.”

The love of law and the Constitution came in part from Jessie Burkle who taught Dismukes in history, government and economics.

“The Constitution is an amazing piece of history,” she said, adding the class read every word of the document as Burkle broke down into pieces for better understanding.

Being part of Prime Time at the high school has helped Dismukes learn more about teamwork and time management.

“There is video editing software we use. We learn how to direct, write scripts, how to direct. I learned a lot in there even though it’s not in my chosen field,” she said. “It requires a lot of time management skills and provides team building.”

Dismukes also enjoys working with the youth group at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Port Neches.

Ten years from now Dismukes hopes to be out of school and practicing law. She would like to work for a firm that specializes in civil rights or Constitutional law and looks forward to this new phase of her life.

Leah Dismukes is the daughter of Lori and Gregory Dismukes.

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