Courtney Chaney has her sights set on bright lights and big cities.

Soft-spoken and thoughtful, when Chaney talks about her dreams, you get the feeling she’ll succeed.

She wasn't surprised to be named one of the top 10 in her graduating class. “The first couple of years of high school I was really motivated, but the last two I struggled with a little because I’ve been taking more AP classes, so I was surprised, but at the same time I knew I was up there somewhere.”

Chaney will be heading to Ithaca College in New York in the fall. She wants to end up in a big city. “Ever since I was 10 I’ve wanted to be in a city.”

Her parents, Debra and Charles Chaney, are supportive of whatever she decides to do. But with one older sister in Rhode Island and the other in St. Louis, she thinks her mother would like her to stay a little closer. “My mom was OK with me looking at schools in New York, but when I mentioned Boston, she was like, ‘woohoo.’ My dad doesn’t really care as long as I’m happy.”

At Ithaca she will be enrolled in a the television-radio program. “They have great connections with internships. Some people have interned at Good Morning America, CBS, NBC and the Ellen Degeneres Show.”

Chaney has been involved in Y-Arts, the tennis team for four years, freshman and sophomore basketball, plays flute in the high school band, and has been a volunteer for Special Olympics, Arts for All and Kiddy Choir.

She has participated in the AIDS Walk in Boston for the past two years.

Chaney also plays guitar and ukulele, and sings with a group of her friends. “It’s not a band,” she said. “We’ve had like 20 different names. But I’m glad I do it.”

Chaney said her science and chemistry teacher Lauren Graham has been very supportive. “She has really encouraged me in science, which I’m not good at. In making a decision on colleges she really helped me and pushed me to go with my heart.”

As she prepares to leave her small town life behind, Chaney is reflective. “I’m going to miss my parents, and as much as I dislike this town in the winter, I’m going to miss the sense of community.”