By: Jair McElveen
Here at Bladen Online, to start our Senior Spotlight, we went to West Bladen High School to speak with student-athlete Walker Barkley.
Barkley is a well-rounded scholar who has been a part of the West Bladen High School’s Varsity Track and Field team for three years while being active in many clubs and owning his clothing line, In Denial. Starting as just an idea, Barkley doubted being a business owner, but his sister often reminded him to follow his dreams and have no fear. Sadly, about three years ago, his sister passed away, but Barkley wanted her legacy to live on and named his brand after her. Barkley also pushes the name of his brand to tell everyone “to be Indenial about people telling you who and what to be and reminding others just to be themselves.”
Initially enrolled at a small private school, Barkley states that when he transferred to West Bladen, he could open up more. Barkley also mentioned that at West Bladen High School, opportunities geared toward his future were also presented. Laying a great foundation for him, the entrepreneurship classes and the amazing teachers taught so much. He states that “each teacher has prepared me in many ways that I cannot even explain.”
After graduating, he plans to attend North Carolina State University, studying in the College of Textiles with a focus on fashion development and brand management. It is through this program that he hopes to send In Denial to the next level. Barkley says he wants “to be accepted as a designer,” and at North Carolina State University, he can put his clothes on a runway. His ultimate goal is to become a 100,000-dollar brand by the end of college, and through each of his pieces, he wants to make a statement and build a family.
When it comes to a challenge that he believes he may encounter, it is change. Moving from a rural area like Bladen County to the big city of Raleigh, there may be some distractions, and he says that it will take some adjusting, but if he stays one-minded, the path to success will be clear.
When asked if he had any advice for first-year students, he simply stuck to his sister’s words, “Follow your dreams and have no fear.”
About Author
