NEDERLAND — Nederland High School senior Kade McCorvy holds tight to words of wisdom he received years ago — work now and play later or play now and pay for it later.

The advice, given during an eighth grade student council workshop, keeps coming back to him as he carefully plans his future and prepares to enter Princeton University on a full scholarship.

“I know where I want to be and how to get there,” McCorvy, 17, said. “I’ve kept that drive. Those words keep coming back to me.”

McCorvy plans to major in public policy with hopes of studying at Princeton’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs before entering law school.

Law, he said, is a way to bring about positive change.

He learned a lot during Youth Leadership Southeast Texas.

“Everyone has his or her own idea of what makes good leadership,” he said. “People come from different circumstances and there is a drive to overcome. You use your own input to inspire others to change. The biggest detriment to humans is complacency, it causes laziness and a stagnant environment.”

During the leadership program he helped put together a documentary of sorts at speaking with people of different religious and ethnic backgrounds. Through this he heard some harsh words.

“I don’t think people are malicious at heart. They don’t realize what they say may have a negative effect,” he said, adding he received positive feedback regarding the documentary. “One of the things laws can do is bring about change. It evens the playing field.”

McCorvy has also received recognition through the Elks National Foundation Most Valuable Student program. The Elks Beaumont, Texas Lodge No. 311, nominated him. From there the list of winners was whittled down and he moved to region then state. He finished in third place with a substantial scholarship.

McCorvy’s driving force through his academic career has been his mother, Cammie McCorvy. Cammie McCorvy, a former X-ray technician, was forced to stop working when she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

“I see people who are driven but can’t do the physical,” he said. “I’m able bodied and have been given some sort of intelligence and I do what I can do to maximize this gift.”

Kade McCorvy is the son of Cammie McCorvy and Michael McCorvy. He has a younger brother who is a freshman and an older sister who will be transferring from Lamar University to Vanderbilt University to major in education reform.

The teen said their mother never pushed them in school and never had to tell them to study. She believes, he said, that they (siblings) should grasp their opportunities even if it takes them away from home.

McCorvy isn’t new to leadership roles. He is senior class president and section leader/captain of the drum line in the band. He and a few other students had a hand in reviving the school’s debate team and he has been to state competition for the past two years.

Carmen Pickard, Nederland High School senior class counselor said McCorvy has a lot of determination and is very focused on what needs to be done to get where he wants to go. In addition, he’s not boastful or one to brag about his accomplishments.

His accomplishments also include a SAT score of 2250 out of 2400 and an ACT score of 3500 out of 3600.

McCorvy is looking forward to Princeton. He knows it will be academically challenging and learned through a recent visit to the campus that students and staff are motivated. He looks forward to being involved in student government and debate and plans to audition for the orchestra.

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