Meet Eric Ballard! Eric is a senior at North Hall High School and will attend the University of Alabama in the fall. Eric’s parents are Scott and Rhonda Ballard. We want to congratulate Eric and his family on his upcoming graduation and best of luck in the future.
Question: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
Answer: “I have my mom, Rhonda, my dad, Scott, three sisters, Lindsay, Kelli Ann, and Danielle, and a brother, Brandon.”
Q: What are your plans after graduation?
A: “I will be attending the University of Alabama in the fall to major in Aerospace Engineering.”
Q: What are two of your favorite restaurants in our community?
A: “Atlas Pizza and the Collegiate Grill. Atlas Pizza is the best pizza in Gainesville hands-down, and I really like the vibe of The Collegiate.”
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
A: “I would go to Australia to see the wildlife and free dive at the Great Barrier Reef.”
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
A: “My favorite movie is ‘Top Gun,’ and my favorite TV show is ‘Stranger Things.'”
Q: If you were asked to give advice to your senior class and the younger students at your school, what would you say?
A: “I would tell my classmates and younger students to not worry about what other people think and to work on self-improvement.”
Q: If you were able to be cast as yourself into a television show or series, what show would you want to be in?
A: “I would cast myself in ‘Stranger Things.’ I think it’d be fun to live in Hawkins in the 80s.”
Q: If you could choose anyone to have lunch with, who would you choose? Why? And where, locally, would you meet for this lunch?
A: “I would have lunch with Chris Hadfield at Atlas Pizza. I would like to talk to him about space travel and his time commanding the ISS.”
Q: What is your favorite thing about our community?
A: “I like the tight-knit feel, and how the community comes together on issues.”
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
A: “I see myself working in a large aerospace engineering firm, hopefully designing and working on the future of flight.”
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
A: “To get my skydiving license for sure.”
Q: What is your go to band / singer when you cant decide what to listen to?
A: “When I don’t know what to listen to, I always go to classic rock. Usually it’s AC/DC.”
Q: Favorite month? favorite holiday? and best single day on the calendar?
A: “My favorite month is September because it’s when it starts to get cool and everything feels nice. My favorite holiday is the 4th of July because we get to celebrate the great country we live in. The best day on the calendar is the first day of summer break!”
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
A: “Days spent with friends on the lake, and summer night drives with the windows down with friends.”
Q: What is something you want to do as soon as this pandemic is finished?
A: “I want to get on the lake and spend time with friends.”
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
A: “My dad inspires me to be better. He’s very supportive of what I do, and he pushes me to be the best I can be.”
