MOUNTLAKE TERRACE — Sophie Burbank, 18, is a senior at Mountlake Terrace High School. The daughter of a teacher, she wants to work in educational policy. She’s also a local and statewide leader with the Technology Student Association. She’s taken eight college-level Advanced Placement classes, been to five continents and she collects coins.
Question: You play ice hockey?
Answer: I’ve been playing 10 years this year but I’ve been with the Western Washington Female Hockey Association for a number of those and now I’ve moved up to their oldest team. I just love the game a lot.
Q: Describe your high school experience and transferring to a new district.
A: I felt a little bit lonely and isolated (in middle school). When I came here, the first group to reach out to me was the TSA (Technology Student Association) and my dad’s the adviser … A (Link Crew member who helps freshman) said, “You should really join. It’s really cool.” The people were so friendly, so dedicated. They have been some of my closest friends.
Q: You grew up in Brier?
A: It’s a small little area. The (school) districts are so split … The lots are pretty big. We had kind of a forest in our back yard.
Q: What was your favorite class?
A: Humanities (which combines AP European History and Honors English into a single two-hour block.) We were role-playing as legislators in the English Parliament. Those really unique activities are things you can’t do in a standard class period.
Q: What is your career path?
A: I’ve applied to colleges and what I’ve mostly applied for is public policy, social policy. (Through TSA) one of the things we do is legislative advocacy. We went down to Olympia and had one-on-one meetings with legislators to talk about why career and technical education is important.
Q: How many colleges did you apply for?
A: Five in the U.K. … It’s around 10 total.
Q: What do you do on the long drives to Canada for hockey?
A: I’ve gotten really good at staring out the window. I really like talking to my dad. Sometimes I play on my (Nintendo) 3DS. I really like Japanese role-playing games.
Q: Do you have a favorite book?
A: Probably “The Shining” by Stephen King. The movie and the book are great in different ways. There’s no jump scares. You can just feel the impending doom.
Q: What do you hope to do with your education?
A: There is so much really deep statistical stuff. I hope to get a really good understanding of the issues that go on in educational policy.
Q: What issues do you think are the most important?
A: There’s a disconnect between teachers and the people who make policy. There’s so much that looks good on paper but doesn’t translate well.
Q: What are you looking forward to in the last few months of high school?
A: I’ve really pushed myself. I think the wind-down is what I’m most looking forward to.
Q: What is exciting about moving away for school?
A: I just have such wanderlust. I even struggled to apply to schools on the West Coast.
Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @rikkiking.
