Local student maintains perfect attendance since elementary school

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — It can be hard to get to school every day as a student, because sometimes life hits with unexpected problems. But one local student has been able to make it happen everyday from elementary to high school.

Emily Underwood goes to Independence High School. She said keeping perfect attendance meant making some sacrifices. Underwood plays on a roller derby team and said some days, she had to miss tournaments to make sure she got to class.

"I think using the word endurance is a really good word for it because there are some days that you just don't want to get up," she said. "You're sick, you don't want to get up, but if it's something that you really care about, something that's important to you and it's a value that you want, something you want to achieve, I think you just have to go and have that endurance to get up, get dressed, go to school, drive to school or whatever you're doing. But it is something that takes endurance because some days you just don't get up."

Underwood said she has committed to CSU Fullerton.