ARLINGTON — Lauryn Baker, 17, is a junior at Weston High School. The youngest of three siblings, she says her older brothers set a high standard. She’s ahead on credits and hopes to graduate early. She loves writing and photography, and had to learn to cut back on physical activity after getting sick freshman year. She moved from Arlington High School to Weston this year.
Question: What made you switch to Weston?
Answer: I have never been a social butterfly. I’m open to everyone and I talk to people, but I’ve just never had big friend groups so I just wanted to finish my work faster and have a smaller learning environment and feel more comfortable.
Q: What does your class schedule look like?
A: Probably average, but I have an (online) class and I’ve already completed two full classes that way. It has any classes you want — social studies, math, electives, writing, anything you want. It’s at your own pace and your own learning style, so you can do it as fast as you want or take your time. So I’m ahead on credits as a junior, which is nice, and I’m hoping to graduate the first semester of senior year.
Q: What’s your favorite subject?
A: English. I want to do a lot of writing. I can just express the way I think in a different way. You can use so many words to describe what you’re feeling. When you’re writing, you can paint a picture in your mind … It’s a different perspective.
Q: Can you tell me a little bit about your background?
A: I come from a family of five and we all are like a united family but we all have our different interests. My oldest brother and my dad have always been really into sports and my other brother is like the brainiac of the family. He always got good grades, so I try to follow after him. I tried basketball and cheerleading and everything, but the older I get, the more artistic I become. I like painting and writing. I love the outdoors. I’ve been taking a lot of pictures lately. I’m trying different things because I haven’t found my thing yet. I like adventures and hiking on the weekends. The other weekend I visited Snoqualmie Pass and I went to a bunch of little restaurants and took pictures. I used to run a lot but I got a kidney problem so I can’t exercise as much, but on Tuesdays and Thursdays I do yoga. I have this journal by my bed and sometimes I just lie in bed and write anything that comes to mind.
Q: What happened that made it so you couldn’t exercise as much?
A: I was in a lot of really hard PE classes and then I started getting kidney stones. I’ve had four of them, and it kept me from doing a lot of things like hiking and my PE classes. I missed a lot of days because of it. I was in the hospital. It set me back freshman year. I realized that even when things like that come up, you can’t let go of your main focus in life. I got my grades back up and I turned all of my assignments in. I thought it was the food I was eating, but I eat pretty healthy. They found out it’s genetic, and there’s an issue but they haven’t really figured it out.
Q: What’s your favorite memory from high school?
A: A lot of the football games and the pep rallies. All the posters we make for the pep rallies and putting together the dances. It’s just getting involved and putting myself out there because I’ve never really liked talking in front of people. Now I’m seeing how much a school can come together. It makes me feel good.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
A: I want to have a stable career. I don’t just want to have a job I go to and make minimum wage. Hopefully I have my own place whether it’s an apartment or a little house. I’d like to own a husky someday. And if writing doesn’t work out somehow, I want to work with (my dad’s) business and do marketing and sales.
Q: What would your advice be to freshmen?
A: Don’t be afraid to go outside of your box and make new friends and try new things. I was always too afraid to publicly speak or be involved, so I didn’t get involved until the end of my sophomore year. Just don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and learn all of the opportunities instead of doing the same thing every time.
Kari Bray: 425-339-3439; kbray@heraldnet.com.
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