April 28, 2026 — At Walton High School, one student has overcome a unique set of obstacles to become a Cobb Schools graduate.
While most students go through the day without worrying about seemingly simple things, such as hearing what a teacher is saying, that luxury is not afforded to Cooper Virant.
For as long as he can remember, Cooper has struggled with ADHD and hearing loss. When he was younger, he had hearing aids that eventually stopped working as effectively, so he and his family opted for cochlear implant surgery as a more permanent solution.
"I've had two surgeries while I've been in high school that have taken me out for a long time. Having to claw my way back from all that stuff and having to catch up on all that missed work, missed finals, midterms, has been a challenge," said Cooper.
Throughout it all, Cooper said his teachers at Walton helped him tremendously catch up on work he missed while recovering from surgeries, as well as the extra accommodations he needed to succeed throughout the school day.
He sits towards the front of the class and has to lean his left ear closer to hear clearly, which has made it tough, over the years, to take notes and really learn what's being taught in the classroom at the same time.
While it hasn't been the easiest path, Cooper's 3.8 GPA is a sign of his ability to succeed despite adversity.
Cooper said he plans to use his own life experiences to hopefully help others through his future career path.
"The dream job would be to be a pediatric sales rep for cochlear implants — to sell what I have to people like me when they’re kids and to their families who are shocked and worried about what they're going through. So that I could just be that driving force, and be like, 'Hey, I have this, and it really does work. So, I'd really love to give you that same opportunity that I had when I was a kid and just get to help people experience life the way I'm experiencing it right now,'" said the Walton senior.
Cooper plans to attend Auburn University after graduation as he continues to try to help others overcome similar challenges he's faced.
