Two diplomas: Marissa is a senior at Granite Falls High School, but she spends her school days at Everett Community College as a Running Start student. She is on schedule to earn her high school diploma and community college associate degree this June.
What’s ahead?: It’s college application time and Marissa is applying to MIT, Cal Tech and the University of Washington honors program. She is considering majors in astrophysics or biochemistry.
Nice honor: Marissa scored high enough to be named a commended scholar in the National Merit Scholarship program.
Likes science: “With science, it’s something that I feel there is always so much more to learn.”
Keeping busy: Her fall quarter class load includes astronomy, second-year calculus and U.S. history.
Tough choice: Challenging courses and college credits won out over her desire to remain in high school with her friends. The good thing is she gets to see them just about every day because she’s on the Granite Falls High School soccer, basketball and tennis teams. “I went to homecoming last weekend. I still get to hang out with all my friends.”
Early start: Marissa became a soccer referee when she was just 10 and later started helping her dad coach her younger sister’s soccer team.
Raring to read: Mysteries are her favorite genre. Despite a busy schedule, she still manages to read a book or two a week.
Close-knit: “I love the small-community aspect of Granite Falls. I know pretty much everybody. I feel really connected.”
Quick study: In the summer before her junior year of high school, Marissa took a 15-credit Spanish class at EvCC. “It was four hours a day of class and that much time or more for homework,” she said.
Memorable trip: Her family took a European vacation last summer, visiting Spain, France, Italy, Croatia and Greece. Venice was her favorite stop.
Staying close: Marissa said she spends a lot of time with her family, including her parents; her sister Alicia, 13; and her grandparents and cousins who live just down the road. There also are two cats and a new puppy named Izzy at home.
Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446, stevick@heraldnet.com.
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