What is your background?: I have spent my entire life on an acreage outside of Mechanicsville. I began my school career at North Cedar as a kindergartener, the very same system I will graduate from in spring 2017. My dad works a production job in Cedar Rapids and my mom teaches school at North Cedar. I have a ten-year-old sister who goes to school in my old elementary. Together we also raise and show a small herd of Miniature Hereford cattle.
What brought you to Kirkwood and why?: When I entered high school, my guidance counselor opened a conversation regarding my course history (I have been two years ahead of my age peers in math since fifth grade). He suggested that I could extend my experiences in math and other subjects by taking PSEO courses. He then said, almost off the cuff, that I could actually earn an Associates Degree during high school if I wanted to. Well, I wanted to.
What is your program of study and what interests you about it?: Right now, I am working on a degree in Liberal Arts that will transfer to any of the state universities. I haven’t yet chosen a major or even which university yet, but I know I want to go to one of them, and this seems like a good use of my time and energy.
When will you graduate from Kirkwood and what are your thoughts about it?: I am on track to graduate from Kirkwood in Spring 2017, just ahead of my high school graduation. I am pretty proud that my Kirkwood degree will be dated ahead of my high school diploma. It does add some pressure, though, to choose a university and a major earlier than my peers.
Are you involved in anything else outside of classes? If so, what and why?: Currently, I perform in our high school’s fall musical production each year, as well as the spring play. I am also a member of the concert choir and chamber choir. I enjoy the cast in each production and group and we have a lot of fun together, on stage and off. Until just this year, I was on the football, basketball, and competition cheer teams as well.
What brought you to cheer at Kirkwood?: I started out just attending open gym practices with a friend of mine who was already on the cheer team. From there, I began to attend regular practices, and the next thing I knew, I was on the Kirkwood Cheer Team.
What do you do for fun?: I hunt. I love to hunt turkey, goose, duck, pheasant, and deer with my dad, my uncle, and a couple good friends. I even have a dog that I am training to hunt pheasant with me. When it’s not hunting season, I play video games, or help out in the barn.
Where do you see yourself in five years?: I honestly do not know. I do know that I hope to be earning a living on my own, and I hope to be able to support my hunting habit.