Age: 17 years old
School: Arlington High School
Hometown: Oak Harbor, Whidbey Island, WA
Current City: Arlington, TN
What’s your favorite saying that relates to your moral compass?
My parents have told me since I was little to ‘be the best you you can be’ and even now I think about that every day. I know I can’t control what other people do or what happens to me, but life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it. It’s really important to me to have a positive outlook on life and be ready for the changes that come up. I try to focus on the things in my daily life that make me happy and on what I can do individually that will lead to a better world.
What’s your favorite activity?
I’m writing right now from Hilton Head, SC while on my family vacation, which leads me to one of my favorite things to do, traveling. I love being immersed in different cultures and having the opportunity to try new experiences and make new memories. I also love to read. Currently I’m reading The Happiness Project by Gretchen Ruben and Voyager by Diana Gabaldon (I would recommend them both).
How are you helping in the community (or in the world)?
I recently created the Women’s Equality (WE) Club at Arlington High School, and hope to use it as a vehicle to connect people at my school with the surrounding community and make a difference through volunteering and fundraisers. A large focus of the club will be community service, as well as spreading awareness about gender equality in an educational environment. If you’re interested in supporting the Women’s Equality Club, please email 901WEclub@ gmail.com.
Who influenced you to be the person you are?
I’m so thankful to have such a supportive family who all contributed to shaping the person I am today. My parents are my cheerleaders, always encouraging me. My mom taught me how to be kind, and how to create and keep good friendships. From my dad I get my determination, adaptability, and love of Jeopardy! (TV show). My grandparents are my foundation and from them come many of my favorite memories.
Who has helped you along the way (emotionally, financially, job-wise)?
My aunt, Rainey, is one of my inspirations every day, providing me with advice, knowledge, and book recommendations that never fail. Other mentors in my life: Lindsay Krosnes (as well the rest of the Orpheum staff)
has been a great mentor and frien; Mr. K and Ms. A (theatre teachers), Mr. Schmidt (middle school science), Mrs. Boswell (freshman English), and Mrs. McNatt (AP US History). Without them I would not be the person I am today, and for that I am so thankful.
What brought you to this point in your life?
Because I am part of a Navy family, I have moved around my entire life. Without the trials and experiences this lifestyle has provided us, I would not be the person I am today. I moved to Tennessee from Washington State at the beginning of my sophomore year, and what followed was the hardest year of my life. It was a struggle to be happy where I was, emotionally and geographically. It took time, but since then I have fallen in love with Memphis and my life here. Although it was hard to leave and even harder to adjust to a new environment, I wouldn’t trade that year for anything.
What’s coming up for you in the near future (school, job, volunteer gig, etc.)?
Theatre is a really large part of my life and this fall my school is producing the musical Footloose. I hope to be one of the show designers. I’ll also continue being a part of the STAR (Students Taking A Role) Council at the Orpheum, where I volunteer at different events throughout the year and connect with other students in the area who do theatre! I’ll be going into my senior year, so AP Classes and the WE Club will take up a lot of my time. I’m just excited for everything to start!
What do you hope to accomplish by the end of 2017?
My biggest goal for the upcoming school year is for the WE Club to host a Sadie Hawkins Dance (which we need sponsors for!) and I hope that it will have been a great success. A big part of my senior year will be spent prepping myself for the big changes ahead of me. I want to be ready emotionally and physically for college, and that will mean creating good habits now that I can carry over into college.
What are your long-range goals (could be realistic, could be a dream!)?
Since I was 11 years old, I’ve wanted to be a Disney Imagineer. Imagineering is the creative development behind the theme parks and covers every job from designers and artists to engineers and technicians. As I get closer to college, I’ve been discovering the best way for me to make my dream of being a part of the Disney team a reality, and that is through theatre. I also think it would be an amazing experience to design for a Broadway show!
