Super Kid Emma VanderWeyst interested in pursuing politics, history

ARLINGTON — Emma VanderWeyst, 17, is a senior at Arlington High School with a passion for history, government and theater. She balances a 3.95 GPA with leading roles in drama club and leadership class, community service and a part-time job.

Question: What subjects do you feel you excel at?

Answer: Well, my favorite subject is probably history, which is kind of nerdy. Right now I’m in an AP Government class and I love it. We look at all the different aspects of politics and history and how that all correlates, and that really interests me. I took a U.S. History class last year and I really enjoyed it and I loved my teacher who taught it. She just really knew her stuff and inspired me to go into politics and history when I grow up.

Q: When you say you want to go into politics and history, what specifically interests you?

A: I want to work with nonprofit groups, kind of working as a liaison between nonprofits and the government just helping get grants or get legislation passed that will help the nonprofit groups.

Q: What extracurricular activities do you participate in?

A: I’m really involved in our drama program and I love it. I’m also really involved in our leadership program and I’m currently the (student body) treasurer and I’m in the leadership class.

Q: What is it that drew you to drama?

A: I’ve been involved in drama since I was 5 years old and I did classes and shows through Village Theatre KidStage in Everett. I actually transferred to Arlington because of the incredible reputation the high school drama program has, so right off the bat freshman year I was attending drama club and I’ve auditioned for every show since my freshman year. I’ve been in six shows here. I just love it.

Q: What’s your favorite role you’ve played?

A: My sophomore year I got to play Marian Paroo in “The Music Man,” and that was just an incredible experience. It’s a part that doesn’t really fit the type I normally play. It was amazing. I don’t even know how to describe it. I just got to learn so much. I feel like that was kind of the turning point for when I went from being a kid actor to a more grown-up actor. I felt a lot more confident about my performance after that.

Q: Do you have volunteer work or a job outside of school?

A: I volunteer at Purrfect Pals Cat Shelter over in Lakewood and I volunteer at the high school at events and stuff and also at the middle schools and elementary schools. I also work at Just Peachy Frozen Yogurt in Smokey Point. I just started there over the summer. It keeps me pretty busy, but I like it.

Q: What do you do for fun?

A: I’ve always loved to read. I love books. I sing. I do private vocal lessons and I’ve been in the choirs here at the high school for the last three years. I love to hang out with my family. We do these family dinners every Monday night where we all sit down and my grandmother and my great-aunt come over and we all eat together. It’s one of my favorite parts of the week. I have a little brother named Ben. He’s 13, goes to Lakewood Middle School. We’re really close. We love watching food shows on Netflix together. That’s kind of our thing. We’ll stay up until 2 in the morning watching Food Network stars.

Q: Any other activities you’re involved in?

A: During the last six months, I’ve been working with the administration and some other students and we’ve been putting together an anti-bullying curriculum. It’s called The Way and we’ve been using it for a couple years but we went through it and revised it. It’s been really interesting learning about bullying and how much of it gets missed because it’s not reported or things like that. I also work as an assistant for the public relations officer for the schools, which has been an amazing experience. It’s helped me build my communication skills and my confidence. For the past two years, I have served as the Queen (and) youth ambassador for Sons of Norway, Normanna Lodge. I am a fourth generation member.

Q: Anything else you want to add?

A: On my first day of auditions my freshman year for my first play I met the girl who is my best friend right now. We’ve been in all the shows together since and it’s just so awesome to have someone interested in the same things I’m interested in. Our names are Emma and Emily, so we get a lot of grief for that all the time. We actually got to play the evil stepsisters in “Cinderella” last year together, which was amazing. We got nominated for a 5th Avenue Award, which is such an honor. We called each other crying when we found out.

Kari Bray: 425-339-3439; kbray@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Trader Joe’s customers walk in and out of the store on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New Trader Joe’s opens this week at Everett Mall

It’s a short move from a longtime location, essentially across the street, where parking was often an adventure.

Ian Bramel-Allen enters a guilty plea to second-degree murder during a plea and sentencing hearing on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Deep remorse’: Man gets 17 years for friend’s fatal stabbing in Edmonds

Ian Bramel-Allen, 44, pleaded guilty Wednesday to second-degree murder for killing Bret Northcutt last year at a WinCo.

Firefighters respond to a small RV and a motorhome fire on Tuesday afternoon in Marysville. (Provided by Snohomish County Fire Distrct 22)
1 injured after RV fire, explosion near Marysville

The cause of the fire in the 11600 block of 81st Avenue NE had not been determined, fire officials said.

Ashton Dedmon appears in court during his sentencing hearing on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett Navy sailor sentenced to 90 days for fatal hit and run

Ashton Dedmon crashed into Joshua Kollman and drove away. Dedmon, a petty officer on the USS Kidd, reported he had a panic attack.

A kindergarten student works on a computer at Emerson Elementary School on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘¡Una erupción!’: Dual language programs expanding to 10 local schools

A new bill aims to support 10 new programs each year statewide. In Snohomish County, most follow a 90-10 model of Spanish and English.

Logo for news use featuring the Tulalip Indian Reservation in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Woman drives off cliff, dies on Tulalip Reservation

The woman fell 70 to 80 feet after driving off Priest Point Drive NW on Sunday afternoon.

Everett
Boy, 4, survives fall from Everett fourth-story apartment window

The child was being treated at Seattle Children’s. The city has a limited supply of window stops for low-income residents.

People head out to the water at low tide during an unseasonably warm day on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Lighthouse Park in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett shatters record high temperature by 11 degrees

On Saturday, it hit 73 degrees, breaking the previous record of 62 set in 2007.

Snohomish County Fire District #4 and Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue respond to a motor vehicle collision for a car and pole. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene, near Triangle Bait & Tackle in Snohomish. (Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office)
Police: Troopers tried to stop driver before deadly crash in Snohomish

The man, 31, was driving at “a high rate of speed” when he crashed into a traffic light pole and died, investigators said.

Alan Dean, who is accused of the 1993 strangulation murder of 15-year-old Bothell girl Melissa Lee, appears in court during opening statements of his trial on Monday, March 18, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
31 years later, trial opens in Bothell teen’s brutal killing

In April 1993, Melissa Lee’s body was found below Edgewater Creek Bridge. It would take 27 years to arrest Alan Dean in her death.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Snohomish in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Man dies after crashing into pole in Snohomish

Just before 1 a.m., the driver crashed into a traffic light pole at the intersection of 2nd Street and Maple Avenue.

Bodies of two men recovered after falling into Eagle Falls near Index

Two men fell into the falls and did not resurface Saturday, authorities said. After a recovery effort, two bodies were found.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.