Nater Youngchild job-shadowed Jeff Langhelm, GH City Engineer for three days and experienced the reading of blueprints, and plans such as the new hospital. He dissected plans, went over them with the inspectors, and saw how plans were corrected on auto-cad. He enjoyed his experience, and learned that there was more personal interaction involved in a civil engineer job than he thought. He has changed his mind from engineering to the medical field. Nater would like to become a pediatrician. Nater will attend UW in the fall. Nater states, “Everything in life affects and makes you who you are.” His most memorable parts of high school are being on the China Exchange, Football and baseball teams and his community service.

Aaron Johnson would one day like to be a firefighter like his grandfather was. He plans to take the EMT course at TCC beginning next fall. His internship with Key Peninsula, Fire House Wauna 1, “C” shift, was a quiet one. He saw the interview process with a paramedic, and the candidate’s demonstration of knowledge of the aid vehicle. He observed the firefighters work out, cook, eat, watch movies and sleep. The firefighters called him their good-luck charm, because they received no calls while he was on their shift. In high school wrestling has taught Aaron the most about discipline, and that he recognizes is the key to success.

Justin Allard plans to be a fire fighter. He conducted his internship at the Wauna Firehouse. He was shown some basics, and rode along to a ladder drill at Peninsula Market, where they then were called out to help a person who had slipped on the ice and needed aid and transportation to the hospital. On another day, he saw the fire fighter use the Jaws of Life, and cut the roof back of a car to extract a victim (Justin) in a drill. He put out a dumpster fire using the fire hose. He plans to attend Bates or Olympic Colleges two year program in the future. He realizes that the biggest challenges will be coping with death, getting over fears, and working in small spaces with all the equipment on. Justin is not only a conscientious student, he is an athlete. His best javelin throw is 176’11”! Justin says the best thing about high school is the atmosphere and sports.

Jake Hoggatt wants to teach. He interned with Sandra Egan, Truman Middle School math teacher. He has now learned that he would like to teach history and PE at the high school level, and possibly coach track. He plans to attend CWU in the fall. He has been a teacher’s assistant and has enjoyed his weight training and life-time sports classes the most. He states, “Levy’s life lessons for our generation are to be prepared, and be on task.” He says, “Levy, (Mr. Levenseller) is a smart man.” In addition to his middle school experience and high school teaching assistant experiences, Jake has been a three year volunteer at the Special Olympics, and he is a member of our track team.

Julia Stockton didn’t act in a play before high school. She credits her friend, Kelsey Abel for getting her into acting in the 9th grade. Now, she sees herself in the field of theatre. She has been in most of the high school plays, and is currently in Cinderella. She will attend PLU in the fall and major in theatre education, or possibly, vocal performance, psychology or sociology. Julia completed her internship at Performance Place Studio, where she made programs, taught musical dance, and helped with 5-10 year old ballet students. Julia says the most important thing about high school is her relationships with her friends. If she didn’t have them, she’d be a different person. Her friends challenge her and help her along. Five or six of her closest friends are going to PLU as well.

Emma Thompson observed and worked with her piano teacher of 8 years, Christina Erikson Brown. She found out what piano teacher do besides teach piano. Emma is a talented musician, who has excelled in school. She has taken several AP classes, stating that AP chemistry was her favorite, as it taught her skills she will need to work hard and independently. She is looking forward to having more choices and harder classes and living in a college environment next year. She will attend SOKA University in Aliso Viejo, California, where she plans to earn a Liberal Arts degree and then go to graduate school.