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Washington Evening Journal
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Washington, IA 52353
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Emma Wendland
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
Age: 17
Parents’ names: Robin and Phil Wendland
High school: Fairfield High School
GPA: 4.0, Rank: 1 of 104
Activities: Tennis (Most Improved, second place doubles championship, second place Ottumwa singles tournament, co-team captain), FBLA (Treasurer, National Qualifier), Book Club, NHS, Tri-M Honor Society, Historian, Band (Concert, Pep, Jazz, Marching, Band Captain, 1 st Chair, SEIBA Honor Band, University of Iowa Honor Band, Wartburg Honor Band, William Penn Honor Band, Northwest Missouri State, Four-State Festival, Golden Shoe Award, Second Place Riverbend, Flute and Saxophone Festival)
Other clubs: Fairfield Municipal Band, Sunday School Assistant at Church
Future Plans: I plan to attend Northwest Missouri State University to major in graphic design in order to become a UX Designer.
How will your high school experiences help you in the coming years? My high school experiences will help me in college and beyond by helping me learn how to adapt. High school is all about learning and change whether it’s mentally or socially changing. Without learning to change when something isn’t working, I would never have come this far, and high school, if it’s taught me how to do anything, it has taught me how to learn, adapt and overcome.
Fondest memory of high school: I have too many fond memories to count, but one of my favorites would have to be during marching band night rehearsal where before our final run-through we all lay down on the cool grass and loked up past the stadium lights at the stars, and we got to reflect on how far we had come as a band, that season. Then, mid run-through, the stadium lights timed out and we all couldn’t see, but once we stopped freaking out, it was really funny and I truly enjoyed that night.
Which teachers have had the biggest impact on you and why? The teachers who have had the biggest impact on me are Mr. Kraemer, Mrs. Hektoen and Mrs. Reifsteck. All three of these fabulous teachers have helped inspire and push me to be the best version of myself. I don’t think I could even thank them enough for all they’ve done for me.
Who is your role model and how did they influence you? My role model would have to be my pets. I love animals and my pets mean a lot to me. They are my role models because they always look fabulous, keep calm, lighten the mood, and they definitely have their life figured out. They have taught me more love and sympathy than any class ever could. They have always been there for me from late night study sessions to helping me sleep better at night. I strive to be able to be as kind to others as they are to me because the world could always use a little more love.
What is special about your high school? What’s special about Fairfield High School is that there are friends everywhere. With the numerous activities that FHS has to offer, you get to meet and make so many new friends. I can’t walk through the halls without getting to greet a friend or teammate. One of my favorite things throughout my day is getting to smile, say hi, and feel good knowing I have so many people who I get to be friends with thanks to all the activities that Fairfield High School has to offer.
If you go back to when you were a freshman, what advice would you give yourself? If I could go back to when I was a freshman, I would tell myself to make my activity time my free time. As someone involved in so many different activities, finding free time can be very difficult, and it took me until my junior year to realize that free time to me was any time that I am having a good time. Knowing this helped me to realize that since I already love playing tennis, being in band, and attending FBLA events, those fun times are free time. Once I figured this out, I have looked forward to concerts, and meets because they aren’t work time, but free time. I of course still put in maximum effort, but I enjoy getting to hang out with friends during these activities which has led me to love when and where I’m at in the moment and not longing to be elsewhere. To conclude, each and every one of my sports, clubs, and activities have helped me to better my skillset while still loving what I do.
