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Grade: 12
Schools: River Ridge High School and South Puget Sound Community College
Hometown: Olympia
Parents: Troy and Dee Jackson
Best personal achievement: (Getting an) invitation to the Phi Theta Kappa honor society.
How I spend my time: Most of the time you will find me spending my time playing volleyball with my team at practice, or singing Broadway show tunes at the top of my lungs. Nothing relaxes me more than singing so loud that the whole house can hear me.
Favorite subjects: School-wise, I found that I have a talent in biology, so that is definitely one of my favorite subjects. I also adore theater, because it gives me a chance to not be myself for awhile and play a whole other person. It is a great way to take a break from my busy schedule.
Favorite movie: My favorite movie would have to be “Pride and Prejudice,” the BBC version, because the movie is such a complicated love story, but what makes it different than the movies from our generation is that the setting is old-time London, so certain rules are implemented that aren’t in our society anymore. This makes the story a lot more interesting because the lovers are trapped by the nature of society. I prefer the older version because it goes into very finite detail of the lives of the main characters.
Favorite book: “Twilight” by Stephenie Meyer.
Dream job: I would love to be a advertising manager because I am a very creative person and would like to incorporate that skill in a business setting.
Someone I respect: Tyra Banks, because she is her own person, and owns it every time she enters a room.
College I’d like to attend: It would be an honor to go to college at Pepperdine University, due to their amazing Business and Communications program. It also is a Christian university, and I believe if I am to go to a university not close to home, I would feel most comfortable around people who were of my faith.
Someone famous I’d like to meet: I’d love to meet Idina Menzel, the original Elphaba in the Broadway musical “Wicked,” because she has such a powerful voice and great range when singing, I would love to just sit down with her and get some advice for my own singing.
Someday, looking back on my life I’d like to be able to say: “What’s next God?”
Biggest challenge facing teenagers today: I believe it is the rising costs of college tuition. Due to budget cuts and higher price tags on colleges, students are finding themselves drowning in debt before they have a degree. This, if anything, dissuades students from wanting to go to college in the first place.
One thing in the world I would change if I could: The education system. Students aren’t given the ability to grow as far as they can when budget cuts seem to keep chopping down at the roots of their potential.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?: I see myself happily graduated from a university, working at a top firm as a advertising manager, and coming home to a great husband, looking forward to whatever God has in store for me.
Staff comment: “Elisabeth has been attending both college and high school, participating in athletics, and performing on stage for the fast two years. She is an amazing individual who always seeks excellence from herself.” – Leslie VanLeishout, theater teacher, River Ridge High School
