Student Spotlights for Oct. 25

Christopher Casey Mets: Likes calculus and psychology Sydney Horne: Would like to become Christian counselor

THE OLYMPIAN | • Published October 26, 2009

Comments (0)

Age: 17

Grade: 12

School: North Thurston High School

Hometown: Olympia

Parents: David and Mary

Best personal achievement: My best personal achievement is maintaining a 3.8 grade-point average throughout high school and also becoming a member of the National Honor Society my sophomore year.

How I spend my time: When I’m not in school I like to spend my time fishing, hanging out with my friends, and playing baseball.

Favorite subjects: My favorite subjects in school right now are calculus and psychology.

Favorite movie: My favorite movie is “The Sandlot.” It’s been one of my favorites since I was little.

Favorite book: My favorite book is “The Client” by John Grisham. He’s my favorite author and I’ve read most of his books.

Dream job: My dream job is to someday become a pilot. It’s been a goal of mine my entire life.

Someone I respect: One person I respect very much is my baseball coach, Coach Baker. He has taught me a lot and helped me improve immensely over the last four years.

College I’d like to attend: I want to attend the United States Air Force Academy. I’m in the middle of the application process, and hope to receive a nomination from my congressman or senators.

Someone famous I’d like to meet: The one person I would like to meet would be the New York Mets’ third baseman David Wright. He’s my favorite baseball player and he plays with pride and class.

Someday, looking back on my life, I’d like to be able to say: That I fulfilled all my goals. I never got distracted by drugs or alcohol, and I worked hard to get to where I am now.

Biggest challenge facing teenagers today: The biggest challenge facing teenagers today is drugs. Not only do they ruin your body, but they interfere with school, family, and work.

One thing in the world I would change if I could: If I could change one thing in the world, it would be to bring the economy out of the state it’s in and restore it to a better condition than what it was in before.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years: In 10 years, I see myself as a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and a pilot for the U.S. Air Force.

Staff comment: Casey Mets is an outstanding student. Over the past four years, he has distinguished himself as a talented musician; taking private lessons, performing solos, participating in small ensembles, and serving as lead trumpet in the jazz band. He is a two-sport varsity athlete, a LINK leader, and a volunteer for youth league football and baseball. He is generous with his time and has willingly volunteered his talents to help groups like the American Legion and the 97th Airlift Squadron’s Children’s Home Society. I am proud to have him as a student.

Darren Johnson, band teacher, North Thurston High School Age: 17

Grade: 12

School: Tumwater High School

Hometown: East Olympia

Parent: My mom, Tonya Palmer

Best personal achievement: So far in my life I am really proud of keeping a 3.7 grade-point average thus far in high school. It hasn’t been easy but is definitely worth it.

How I spend my time: I’m really involved in my church and spend a lot of time at church service and Bible studies and small groups. I also really like to spend time with my friends going to football games or out to movies.

Favorite subjects: A lot of subjects I really enjoy are art classes, but English is my favorite.

Favorite movie: I have so many favorite movies its unbelievable, but I would have to say my all-time favorite is “Just Friends.”

Favorite book: I really like books by Max Lucado but my favorite book is the Bible. It’s the best “self help” book out there.

Dream job: I would love to be a Christian counselor or therapist and be able to go to different churches all over and speak in front people and help people as best as I can.

Someone I respect: I really respect my mom. She has raised me and my brother mostly on her own and done a great job. I know it hasn’t been easy for her, but she has done the best she could, and I am lucky to have a mother like her.

College I’d like to attend: So far, I am interested in a lot of places. Life Pacific College and The University of Washington are on the top of my list.

Someone famous I’d like to meet: I would really like to meet Judah Smith. He isn’t that famous to some, but he is well known in church communities. He is a pastor in Seattle at The City Church. I’ve listened to a lot of his sermons, and I think that he is an incredible person. I would love to talk to him and hear about his life and what he has done and been through.

Someday, looking back on my life

I’d like to be able to say: That I have done good works with my life.

Greatest challenge facing teenagers today: Peer pressure is something that I see often. Kids grow up and spend time with different groups of people and they lose who they really are. It’s tough to go through high school without having some things you wish you wouldn’t have done.

One thing in the world I would change if I could: Global unity is something I would love to see happen in the future. I recently participated in a march downtown to support an organization called “Invisible Children.” It’s designed to help kids in Northern Uganda escape from the war that has been going on for years against the government and the LRA, a group of rebels fighting to overthrow the government and kidnapping young children from their homes and brainwashing them into becoming soldiers.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years: In 10 years I hope to be done with schooling and married with kids, living in my own house and involved in full-time ministry with my husband at our church.

Staff comment: Syd is a great kid. So great, in fact, that it can only be expressed in a Haiku: “Sydney is tiny / yet she stands tall in my class / when perched upon desk.” She is an excellent student with a sparkling personality.

Tom Taylor, teacher, Tumwater High School