Super Kid: Tebra Draper, thriving in a small school

Q: What do you like about your school?

A: Scriber is a smaller school, so the kids that have a harder time learning in bigger classrooms need more specialized attention. They can get that here because the classes are smaller and you can get to know your classmates better, your teachers better and we've formed like a family here. We're really close, and I think it's a beautiful thing. I want to be a teacher some day. It's inspired me.

I really wanted to be here. I knew this is what I needed in order to succeed.

Q: Did you have difficulty learning before?

A: I never really did that good in school, I was never confident in myself, and I never had the self-esteem that I do now.

I had some troubles in my freshman year and I did some rehabilitation-type things, and then I came back to Scriber and my whole perspective about life had changed.

I have ADHD so I really like it when I can have special help from the teachers. But as time goes by I'm learning to kind of step away from that obstacle and not always need that special attention, but I do still like it.

Q: What are your best subjects?

A: I really like English; I like social studies; I like science a lot. Mike Carrey, he's the math teacher here, he completely changed my perspective on math. I owe him so much.

I hated math, I could never do math. But now after I took his math class I felt like I could do anything, and I just felt so proud and so glad to be here. I actually became a T.A. (teaching assistant) in his geometry class.

Q: At which level would you like to teach?

A: I'm not sure yet. I know I want to be a teacher, and I know I want to be in the Peace Corps. I also want to be a volunteer firefighter.

I could teach art, I could teach lots of things. I love learning, I love helping others learn. I love helping people have new perspectives and see things that I see and helping myself see things they see.

Q: Where would you like to go in the Peace Corps?

A: I think I would like to go to Costa Rica. I was there with a group for eight days. I actually got to hold a leatherback sea turtle's flipper while she was laying her eggs. It was amazing.

The best part was when I was standing on the mountain before we left, I felt like we'd been accepted, from this environment and these people we've just met, and I was like "Wow, this is an amazing moment."

Q: What are your extracurricular activities?

A: I'm in an after-school craft club called Y-Make Art. I'm also in a trash art craft club.

I'm editor-in-chief of the yearbook, again, and student adviser for the Edmonds School Board. I received a letter of recommendation from (Superintendent) Nick Brossoit. I'm really proud of that.

I've worked at Subway and currently work at Fatburger.

Q: Your name is unusual.

A: Tebra isn't my real name. I changed my name in the second grade because I wanted to be different. I got teased for my real name. My real name is Cassidy. I came up with Tebra on my own.

Q: Do you plan to go to college?

A: Yes, I'm planning to go to Edmonds Community College for two years and get my teaching degree. Then I'll probably go to Evergreen (State College) and get a combined degree in art, science and English, and then do the Peace Corps.

Bill Sheets: 425-339-3439; sheets@heraldnet.com.