Khali Short is a 17-year-old senior at Cabell Midland High School and the daughter of Chessie and Manford Short. She has an older sister Lisa,29, and a younger brother Maddox who is 9. The Short Family lives in the Lesage community, where Khali grew up with her best friend and neighbor Lindsey Wallace.

Currently a senior at Cabell Midland High School, Khali not only excels academically but also embraces the challenge of taking in-person classes at Marshall University, setting the stage for her future collegiate journey. Balancing her academic pursuits, Khali is also employed at Carter’s in the Huntington Mall. Khali proudly told Stroll Barboursville, "At the moment my grades are straight A’s, and I’ve never been prouder of myself."Khali struggled for years academically due to an undiagnosed attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder This caused frustration and a vicious cycle of depression and anxiety regarding school and poor attendance. It wasn't until her sophomore/junior years that the help of Tamera Mitchell, a dear family friend and school Psychologist helped facilitate the development of a 504 Plan with the school.

Navigating the demands of school, work, and extracurricular activities is no small feat, but Khali tackles the challenge with determination. Her junior year, marked by a dip in grades and mental health, served as a turning point. By focusing on the aspects she could control and prioritizing her well-being, Khali overcame the hurdles and emerged stronger. She shared, “Keeping a balance between my activities and school has  proven to be difficult, but the best and only way I know to get over the struggle is to take it as a challenge and one step at a time."

Khali's dreams extend beyond high school as she aspires to attend Marshall University to pursue a career as a psychologist. "Being a psychologist has always been a dream of mine. My real plan is to become a school psychologist so that I can help students who need it. It’s hard to find support in the school system, so to have some backup at school is amazing."

Khali's involvement in soccer spans 11 years, starting at the age of 7. Her commitment to the sport is not only evident in her achievements, such as becoming a varsity player and starter but also in her ability to inspire and support her teammates. In addition to soccer, Khali is an active participant in the Cabell Midland Theater Department, showcasing her love for performing arts. Reflecting on her favorite memories, Khali cherishes two significant moments, she stated, "My favorite memory is a tie between going to states with my soccer team my sophomore year and playing Grandma Addams in the school production of The Addams Family."

Khali states, “The people I admire the most are my parents, they have been through so much

but despite it all managed to give our family a great life.”

In Khali's words, "My family and friends will always be my biggest fans, so  I want to thank them all so much."