Photos by Mikala Compton

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Video by Aaron Messick and Davis Millard

Amy Hein

Next year’s plan: Attending Kansas State University. Undecided course of study

Career plans: Undecided

NW Activities include: Track and Field (Pole vaulting),  National Honors Society

What activity most defines you?

Probably track. I think part of that is because it would be the thing that I have put the most time into at Northwest. Pole vault definitely; I wouldn’t say that is the thing I have been most influential in necessarily, but I think for me that is the biggest thing that I do in my life right now.

What have you learned from pole vaulting?

Everybody has bad days, and you can’t freak out just because you have one. You have to persevere. If you give up, you are not going to get better, which is something that applies to everything.

What did you get out of high school?

Confidence, that is the biggest thing. When I started out as a freshman, I wasn’t shy, but I was definitely not the outgoing person that I am today. Freshman year I never would have guessed I would have been on Homecoming Court or been a captain of any sport. I gained a lot of confidence from the leadership roles I have achieved and from getting out there and seeing the people who have gone before me.

What was your greatest success in high school?

Probably all of the things I did with . I think just because it was an honor to be elected to such a leadership role, but on top of that, I think I did a good job with getting better and more service opportunities. I think that is what I am most proud of.

Is there something you wished you had done in high school?

I wish I had stepped out of the box a little bit more. I only did one club, which was National Art Honors Society. I mean, I did two sports. It’s not like I was uninvolved; I was probably more involved than some people ever are in high school, but I wish I had put myself out there a little more. I think it could have helped me more now with confidence. I just wish that I had understood how fun high school was freshman year and hadn’t looked at it as a job. High school isn’t just about taking classes and suffering through tests; its about meeting new people, and winning or losing competitions. I wish I had learned that it wasn’t all about academics.

What is your life goal?

To find a life goal. No joke, I do not know what I want to do with my life. I think that is OK right now, just because there is so many things that I like to do, and I don’t know where I want to be in ten years. My life goal is to find a dream because I really don’t have one right now. I’m just keeping my options open right now.

Interviews by Ashlee Crane and Sarah Egger