It’s that time of the year when the Athens Oracle writes articles dedicated to some of the inspiring, dedicated seniors who will graduate in June. Truly understanding and appreciating the stories of every Athens Drive graduate would be wholly impossible, but through these Senior Spotlights, it is easier to understand the struggles they have gone through and how hard they have all worked in order to walk the stage.
One of these talented seniors is Riley Marks, and her high school years have taught her a lot about her capacity to work hard, the limits of her creativity, and her social battery. Marks has dedicated a significant amount of her time throughout the past two years to the Athens Drive Yearbook, using her skills in graphic design, art, and photography to improve the yearbook each year.
“I don’t want to say I did more than other people, but I dedicated a lot of time outside of class,” Marks said. “Like during spring break, I came in half of the days to make sure we hit our deadline.”
Her dedication led to her becoming an editor-in-chief in her senior year, along with Anya Tikhtman and Mackenzie Bostic. Together, they created the 2025-26 yearbook, boasting hundreds of pages that all celebrate the other students of Athens. The passion the three of them have for graphic design and creation can clearly be seen by the love and care put into every page, their leadership guiding the rest of the Athens Yearbook class to create a work of art.
“Riley is a natural leader, and I saw her grow during the school year not only when faced with challenges but also through witnessing the growth of other staff members,” Ginger Harrell, the Athens Yearbook teacher, said. “She learned to soften her criticism and move forward with more constructive criticism. She also had to have lots of patience as an editor.”
Marks is a very artistic person, going from various art classes in her sophomore year to joining the Yearbook team in her junior year, and continuing to follow her passion for creation. Yet, despite her talents, she’s had to come to terms with the fact that art isn’t what she’ll be continuing on with in college and beyond. She’s decided a career path with less variability would be best for her needs.
“I’m still considering doing a minor in Art because that was such a big part of my identity,” Marks said. “But doing commissions took the fun out of it. You’re not doing the art for you, and you’re on all of these deadlines, and I was just used to creating whatever I wanted on my own schedule. The structure wasn’t for me.”
However, that doesn’t mean she has to commit to something she can’t find joy in. Marks has also discovered a love for law and government throughout her high school experience, leading her to major in political science. Her experiences in AP US Government & Politics, along with the Mock Trial club, have helped her to learn about a career she might not have considered before.
“[Mock Trial] was very stressful, but I’ve learned to just work under that kind of stress…I feel like I do my best work when I’m under that kind of pressure,” said Marks. “It’s opened the door for so many new connections for me, and it’s something I’m really excited to continue in the future when I go to college.”
Marks also believes students should focus more on having a balance between academics and social life. She personally wishes she’d let herself invest more time in close friendships, rather than putting so much of her time into school subjects. Though she doesn’t regret discovering her passions, she would have also appreciated having more time to bond.
For a lot of high school, I was really focused on academics, and my social life kind of suffered for that,” Marks said. “But now that school is letting up, I’ve been able to hang out with people more.”
All in all, Marks is a strong student who successfully balanced two completely different passions throughout her time in high school, working long hours and putting her all into everything she committed to. Her teachers have recognized her as a strong symbol of the Athens Drive values, her passion allowing her to become a leader in multiple areas.
“Riley’s strongest skill is in leadership and energy. She performs well to any and all audiences in all capacities,” Harrell said.
As Marks goes on to the next chapter of her life at UNC, she wants her underclassmen to remember their worth, not to be too hard on themselves, and to try not to stress too much over their next steps; it will all work out in the end.
“The world’s always going to put you where you want to be,” Marks said. “As long as you do your best and try your hardest, you’re going to end up wherever you should be.”
