Dancer, writer, craft-lover, and self-described “grandma-core” enthusiast, Abigail (Abby) Barlett is a warm presence in Enloe’s often cold and competitive environment. Her multi-talented and curious nature has taken her down a wide variety of paths, but always towards something creative.
Abby has done dance most of her life, with her strong skill, determination, and passion bringing her far. She has starred in many Enloe performances and even competed against other teams from across the nation. Outside of discipline and talent, Abby has always been a comforting presence in the dance room. “She’s very much a mom,” says Druthi Siripurapu, a fellow dancer and friend, “I remember her helping me out with my makeup because at the time I didn’t really know how to do it.”
Unfortunately, Abby’s dedication to competitive dance had begun taking a toll on her during her junior year, both mentally and physically. Abby’s parents asked her to quit, but her commitment was too strong. She found a compromise, leaving her with only solo and technique classes. With her new wealth of free time, she was presented with the opportunity to get more involved with activities at Enloe, leading her to try out color guard at her mother’s encouragement. Thinking it was the dance team, Abby showed up to the tryouts, was handed a flag, and proceeded to become guard’s best, favorite, and only senior rookie.
The Enloe Color Guard is a part of Enloe’s marching band, and its emphasis on dance and artistry made it a good fit for Abby’s personality and skills. Despite being a rookie, Abby’s overwhelming kindness meant she was still a guide for underclassmen. Competitions can be a whirlwind of events and stress, but Abby consistently stayed calm and composed when faced with the nerves and exhaustion that the environment can bring in a truly impressive manner. “She was there to help me. She was comforting me … and I was so grateful that she did,” says sophomore Rashika Birla, a friend and teammate. Abby fit in perfectly to the team dynamic, quickly becoming a reliable source of comfort and light during stressful moments—as well as being the de facto hair stylist and makeup artist in the winter season.
What Abby brought to color guard wasn’t one-sided; the team’s strong community and support aided her as well. “Since freshman year, I’ve really seen Abby grow out of her shell … color guard is something that she is really passionate about, and it also helped her figure out where she fits in and kind of create her new family,” explains Dhruthi. By joining color guard, Abby filled the void left by dance and built long-lasting friendships, inspiring confidence and a renewed sense of success. Despite many practices and difficult days, joining the team helped make her senior year something truly special.
Outside of dance and guard, she’s also incredibly creative. It’s not uncommon to see her open her bag only to uncover spools of yarn and crochet hooks falling out instead of notebooks or binders. Her projects include everything from blankets to sweaters to stuffed animals, and they all come with her own touch of artistry. Also a prolific scrapbooker, Abby is a journalist outside of just her writing for The Eagle’s Eye. She meticulously maintains a journal filled with beautiful calligraphy and elaborate layouts. “All of this just comes naturally to her,” says her boyfriend, Campbell Haygood, “It’s like there’s nothing… and then boom! Suddenly, something takes shape, like she doesn’t even have to think about it.” It’s no wonder that she’s a volunteer at the North Carolina Museum of Art—whether her medium is fiber, performance, or collage, Abby is a true artist.
Despite occasional anxieties, Abby has never let her worries hold her back from making a difference to those around her. She seems at times unaware of just how amazing she is, with Campbell testifying, “She’s really observant. She thinks she isn’t good at figuring stuff out, but she is,” and Rakshika noting that “She makes really funny jokes. I don’t think she knows that,” Abby has made a profound impact on those lucky enough to get to know her. Her bright and thoughtful nature attracts similarly compassionate and kind people. But even among the best of the best, Abby has a unique quality that makes her stand out. “[She’s] not going to judge you … She’s different from other people I’ve met. She understands you, she understands the struggle, and she can come to you and be, in the same way as you are, and that’s what I like,” Rakshika explains.
As her time at Enloe comes to a close, Abby is moving on to study at Meredith College as a double major in psychology and English. Regardless of whether she’s using warm spirit to help others as a therapist or her passionate and intelligent mind to shine in the courtroom, we know Abby will excel. The Eagle’s Eye is happy to have made it into her high school journals, and we cannot wait to see what will be elegantly written into her college ones. We hope she keeps on creating, dancing, spinning, and writing, bringing her infectious joy, laughter, and kindness to as many people as she can.
