Q: Associated Student Body officers didn’t include a public relations job back in my school days, but that’s your position at Jackson. What does the PR officer do?
A: As head of the school’s PR, I do the morning announcements every day. I’m here at 6:30 a.m., and I type them all up. I try to make them funny. I’ll use puns or movie references, something to engage people. I do the announcements and also emcee assemblies. I love speaking.
Q: You’re an athlete, too. That’s a long day, isn’t it?
A: I run cross country and track. Our cross-country team is No. 2 in the state. In track, I run the 800-meter, the mile and the 2-mile. I’m at school until about 5 p.m.
Q: Do you have any free time?
A: Saturdays, I have cross-country meets. School nights, there’s time to eat, do homework and take a shower. I get about five or six hours of sleep. I keep Sunday as a day to go to church, relax and have some down time.
Q: Where do you attend church?
A: I go to New Life Church in Everett. I play drums, guitar and piano with a music group there, and I’m involved in Awake (student) ministries.
Q: Tell me about your family.
A: We live in Mill Creek, in the same house all my 18 years. I have a younger brother; he’s a sophomore here. And my mom and dad, they are my support team. I always come home to their encouragement.
Q: Is it fun to have your brother at Jackson?
A: The cool thing this year, my brother is in cross country. Being on a team with him is great. My brother also works with the sound equipment at New Life.
Q: How has faith shaped your life?
A: I was home-schooled for five years before going to Gateway< Middle School/a>. I wasn’t the best kid in elementary school. In seventh grade, I felt a calling to leadership at church camp. In eighth grade, I was school president. I started reading the Bible every day. I grew in my relationship with my family and started trusting in my faith.
Q: What are your plans for the future?
A: My passion, I love people. My heart is to know people on a deeper level. As a Christian, I hope to go into the ministry field. A lot of it has to do with serving, servant leadership.
Q: Will you go away to college?
A: I’ll be visiting schools. I’m looking at Life Pacific College, a Bible college in California. Our cross-country team is going to Stanford University. I’m also applying to UW and WSU.
Q: What are your favorite classes?
A: The subjects I’m good at I don’t enjoy all that much. I’m pretty good at math. I’m excited about taking AP psychology this year and learning about people.
Q: Do you have advice for other students?
A: I figured out that high school is like running a mile. You’ve got four years — four laps. The first lap is getting your rhythm. The second lap, you dedicate yourself to the race. The third lap should be hardest. Junior year is the hardest year. You take rigorous classes and the SAT. The last lap, you finish strong.
Q: Is there one memory you will take away from Jackson?
A: I think I’ll most remember when, at the last assembly, all the teachers will send off the seniors. I’ll also remember going to the DECA nationals in Salt Lake City. We did an SBE (school-based enterprise) project for our student store. We had 13 girls, one guy.
Q: Looking ahead five years, where do you think you’ll be?
A: I expect to be coming out of college and hopefully finding that true love.
Julie Muhlstein: 425-339-3460, muhlstein@heraldnet.com.
> Give us your news tips. > Send us a letter to the editor. > More Herald contact information.Talk to us
