Katie Hovde: Proud of her first lead role

Age: 16

Grade: 11

School: River Ridge High School

Hometown: Lacey

Parents: Pete and Maria Hovde

Best personal achievement: Playing/studying violin for 11 years, and getting a lead in my first play ever (role: Sharpay, play: “High School Musical,” River Ridge High School Theater). I also formed a quartet with some of my friends and we have played at weddings, the Capital Food and Wine Festival, fundraisers, and school board meetings.

How I spend my time: Playing violin and piano, writing music, acting, singing, and playing soccer.

Favorite subjects: Music, drama, and English.

Favorite movie: “The Phantom of the Opera”

Favorite book: The Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer.

Dream job: A professional traveling violinist.

Someone I respect: Ms. Ryan, my eighth-grade science teacher and soccer coach.

College I’d like to attend: University of California, Berkeley.

Someone famous I’d like to meet: Barack Obama.

Someday, looking back on my life I’d like to be able to say: That I worked hard to do what I love every day.

Biggest challenge facing teenagers today: Finding the time to balance school and extracurricular activities. I, for instance, am involved in school orchestra, private violin lessons, Student Orchestras of Greater Olympia, and I also teach violin lessons and referee soccer to earn money. In addition, I do theater at my school, play soccer, and take challenging courses in school. It is often hard to balance everything to make sure that I am successful in my endeavors.

One thing in the world I would change if I could: People who are dying of perfectly curable diseases because they simply can’t attain the appropriate medical care.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?: Graduated from college with a major in communications and also in music with a minor in theater and working as a large scale event organizer.

Staff comment: “Katie is talented in so many ways: a leader, a musician, an athlete and actress. She brings a sparkling personality to all she does.” – Leslie VanLeishout, theater teacher, River Ridge High School