Super Kid

Published 9:00 pm Monday, July 19, 2004

Young for her grade: Megan skipped fourth grade. That academic jump didn’t prevent her from finishing in the top 2 percent recently on the national Iowa Tests of Educational Development.

Transition ahead: Off to Marysville-Pilchuck in the fall. “I’m really excited to go to high school. I think it’s going to be great.”

Will miss MJHS: “Two weeks ago, I was looking forward to the end of school, but now I am like, ‘l don’t want to go. I am going to miss it here’. … I’ll miss the teachers the most. They helped me in different ways.”

Knows new digs: Megan already knows her way around part of the high school well – the oval inside the stadium. She was a member of the track team and part of a state-qualifying relay team. “Track was so much fun. I just loved going to state.”

Eager reader and writer: Still finds time to read after homework and practice. Likes fantasy genre, such as works by T.A. Barron, who writes about Merlin.

Lots of reading has motivated her to put her thoughts on paper. She writes a lot, winning a district-wide PTA-sponsored “Reflections” writing competition.

“I write in my spare time. After I read a really good book, it inspires me to write my own stuff.”

Musical interest: Played percussion instruments in school band. Likes snare drums, piano and mallet instruments.

Likes country and rhythm and blues most. “They are quite different. There is something about country. You never really hear anything bad in it. And in R&B, I just like how they sing and the different styles.”

Helping hand: Volunteered at local food bank. “I really enjoyed it. I will probably do some more after I get back from vacation later this summer.”

Oldest sister: Megan is the oldest of four children and keeps an eye on John, 11, Kelsee, 8, and Gabby, 5. She smiles and laughs when she talks about them.

“They are a responsibility, a tough little crowd. It’s definitely nice to have them around.”

New pet: Her family recently brought home its first pet, a fish.

“They call him Gilligan and Fluffy. It’s kind of funny.”