MONTEREY — For Monterey High School’s 2016 valedictorian, the phrase like father, like daughter rings true.

Bailey Book, 18, has worked around the pharmacy business much of her life thanks to her father, George, who owns Book’s Pharmacy in Vidalia. During her senior year at Monterey, Bailey said she decided that’s what she wanted to do.

“I knew I was going to chose something in the medical field, and I’ve been watching my dad do it forever, so I know the ins and outs of it,” she said. “I know I want to help people, and I’ve watched my dad take calls late at night.

“He wants to help them all, and I want to be like that.”

This fall, she’ll enroll in the pre-pharmacy program at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, where her brother, Trey Book, 20, just finished his second year.

“I guess you could say it runs in my blood,” Bailey said. “Plus, ever since my father built (the new building at 1158 Logan Sewell Drive), I’m here all the time.”

Bailey said she was a little apprehensive about going away to go to school.

“I wish I could start over again completely with high school,” she said, laughing. “Now I have to be in the real world.”

Monterey High School was a wonderful place for her to be, she said.

“I don’t think I could have found a better school,” Bailey said. “It was small and you knew everyone in the school. I was close to all of them.”

The teachers at the school also made the experience special. Her mother, Telina Book, is a special education teacher at the school.

“You could go and talk to them during lunch, they were very approachable,” Bailey said. “If you ever needed anything, they would help you. That’s not something you can find at every school.”

Bailey said she was involved in all three clubs at the school, and she also participated in two of the athletic programs.

“I like being involved and doing a lot of community service,” she said. “It is nice to help people.”

Some of her favorite memories at the school were playing softball and basketball.

“During my freshman and sophomore year, we went to the state tournament for softball,” she said. “All of my friends were on the team — it was just something we all enjoyed doing together.”

Many of those same friends will also join her at ULM, which will make the transition a little easier.

“The school isn’t too small, but it also isn’t too big,” she said. “Plus the people there have all been really nice.”

Having to leave her family in this area won’t be easy for her, Bailey said.

“They have always supported me,” she said. “They came to every softball and basketball game and were at every event.”

George said Bailey was a perfect child.

“Bailey has been a model student and a model child — we have really been blessed,” he said. “We never had to stay on her about her work. She was self-motivated and always worked very hard.”

On the bright side, Bailey said she knows a job will be waiting for her when she completes the seven-year pre-pharmacy and then ultimately the school’s pharmacy program.

“It’s my dad, so he pretty much has to hire me, right?” Bailey said, laughing. “I think it will be good to work with people I know and love.

“This is my home.”