Jenna Messer

Parents: Mark and Julie Messer

GPA: 3.956 (4.0 GPA at Kirkwood)

Class rank: 4 out of 105

Co-curricular activities: Band (marching, concert, pep, and jazz), Costuming Crew for WHS Drama Department, 4-H, Silver Cord, National Honor Society, and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.

Community activities: Volunteer in 4-H after-school and summer programs, Kirkwood for Kids Teaching Assistant, childcare for local families, Page at the Washington Public Library.

Future plans and goals: Major in Communication Disorders at Truman State University with the hopes of becoming a Speech-Language Pathologist.

How will your high school experiences help you in the coming years? Taking 26 dual-credit college credits in high school has prepared me for what it takes to succeed in a college environment. I have learned skills in time management and study habits that I will carry with me through my years in higher education to come.

Fondest memory of high school: My favorite memories in high school all revolve around band. Whether it be performing our marching band show at competitions or playing concerts for the public, I have met so many people while also pursuing my love of music.

Which teachers have had the biggest impact on you and why? All of the teachers I have had in my school career have been amazing. It is so hard to choose one favorite, as they have all helped teach skills that apply both in and out of the classroom.

Who is your role model and how did they influence you? I have been lucky to have many great adults in my life. I would be hard pressed to choose just one that I look up to, so I will mention a few: my mom for her selflessness and kindness, my dad for being hard-working, my Grandma Donna for being a fighter and for always seeing the good, and my Grandma Shirley for her endless pursuit of knowledge.

What is special about your high school? Because of the size of my school, I have been able to try a variety of activities as my interests changed.

If you could go back to when you were a freshman, what advice would you give yourself? I would tell younger Jenna to advocate for herself and not worry about what other people think.