Student Spotlight for Feb. 24: Alan Castro

Age: 17.

School: River Ridge High School in Lacey.

Grade: 12.

Parents or guardians: Blanca Ibarra and Rafael Castro.

Best personal achievement: Knowing who I am and where I’m going. I have learned and taught myself life lessons that some people wouldn’t have figured out on their own. The founding of my band Twisted Heroes Of Redemption is also an achievement.

How I spend my time: Staying after school for drama class, band and getting together with friends and my own personal band.

Favorite subjects: Drama, band, material science and creative writing.

Favorite movie: “A Bug’s Life.”

Dream job: Being in the performing arts (acting and music) and performing with my band.

Someone I respect: Someone who respects me and my way of being, including authorities and professors/educators.

The hardest part of being a student is: Dealing with the hardships of my personal life, and trying to thrive at the best of my ability to succeed.

My ambitions or career aspirations include: Performing arts, law and music.

Someone famous I would like to meet: I would love to meet all of my favorite drummers and actors. But one person I would love to meet is Microsoft’s Bill Gates. And I would have loved to have met Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan, if he hadn’t passed away.

Someday, looking back on my life, I’ll be able to say: “I’ve had a good run. I stuck to my state of being and was passionate about what I did. If I didn’t make it, at least I stayed true to who I was.”

Biggest challenge facing teenagers today: They are overly protected and brainwashed to the “norms” of society.

One thing in the world I would change if I could: I would change my fiscal status ... and give back to the people that were born or (forced) into poverty and homelessness.

Nominated by: Theater teacher Leslie Van Leishout, who wrote, “Alan is new to theater, but not new to the stage. He is a talented musician and has played in the pit orchestra for the musical. He is working extremely hard to learn all the new things in theater. … Alan has many great abilities and is creating a name for himself at River Ridge High School as an amazing talent.”

To nominate a ninth- to 12th-grade student for Student Spotlight, email the following information to lpemberton@theolympian.com, fax it to 360-357-0202, or mail it to P.O. Box 407, Olympia, WA 98507, attention Lisa Pemberton. Selected students must submit a photograph and fill out a questionnaire. Provide the student’s name, age, grade, school name, telephone number and/or email; a quote about the student from a school staff member; and the name and contact information of the nominator.