May 27, 2009

Art shows, music video tournaments, set design, acting, publicity, make-up and sound are some of the activities senior Kia Geraths partakes in, stemming from many different school programs she is involved in.

Heading McKay High School's Highlander newspaper as co-editor-in-chief, Geraths has a lot on her plate. Her pursuits include constructing music videos for advanced video production, painting, drawing and mixed media as an advanced art student and taking pictures as a photographer. She also is involved in various activities for McKay's drama department such as fronting Thespians Society as president, an extra curricular after school club offered to students of McKay.

With being an advanced video production and an advanced art student, this senior not only has an art show to prepare for, but she also has a music video tournament to participate in as well.

To manage the hectic schedule, Geraths compiles to-do lists to sort, prioritize and get things done, and even have some time left over.

"I spend time with my boyfriend, graduate Mikel Jenson, and my parents Dana (dad) and Pam (mom) Geraths, make films, write screenplays ... make jewelry and sew new clothes from old clothes," she said.

Outside of school, Geraths leads an even busier lifestyle. From playing guitar, to building up her production company (Desperate Productions), she is never bored.

As well as being talented in many arts, Geraths also is quite a social being.

"(I) have filming parties with other people from Desperate Productions and friends (as well as) listen to music. (I also) love teaching and talking to people. (I) always want to be around my friends. I'm just slightly social," she said.

After writing a screenplay and lettering in drama six times, Geraths wants to raise money not only for college but also for funds to produce and direct her screenplay.

At this time, Geraths plans to go to Chemeketa Community College then transfer to a different school to obtain a degree in film. As far as favorites go, actor Alan Alda has her top spot for winning an Emmy as an actor, writer and producer.

"Film is my passion. Directing, writing, acting, producing; I love it all," Geraths said.

Rachel Nichols is a junior student at McKay High School. She can be reached through Eileen DiCicco at edicicco@StatesmanJournal.com

 

Graduating senior has advice for younger students

June 3, 2009

Ready or not, graduation time is here.

Having gone to McKay High School for the past four years, I have a few words of advice I would like to share with all underclassmen and anyone getting ready for that transition.

One general thing I would like for everyone to do is, try everything.

Once you start breaking those stereotypes, is when you start discovering everything you can be. My first day with the school newspaper, I was the most nervous I had ever been. I didn't even sign up for the class; the counselor just put me there.

I was a cheerleader then and had to go into that classroom wearing my uniform. All I kept thinking was everyone there was so serious about their paper, and I would never fit; I almost quit that day.

Two years later, I'm the co-editor-in-chief of the paper, and I realized that writing was my passion.

If you let yourself try something new, you can be amazed of what might happen.

Now for freshmen, the best advice I can give is, don't let your grades slip. Everything is so different, and you are just not used to having to be your own motivator.

But truly, if you let your grades fall now, it will affect you getting scholarships when you are older. Learning that your grades are what determine your education after high school is very important at this time.

For sophomores, once you have learned how to keep up with your grades, the best thing you can do is start putting yourself out of your comfort box and join some clubs, sports or anything extracurricular. You will make friends, and if you need more incentive than that, it looks great on applications.

Junior year is the hardest year. It is a good idea to take some honor classes and classes that will get you college credit. However, it's a bad time to overload yourself, so make sure you are taking a couple of really fun electives to balance things out.

And then comes senior year.

Best advice I can give is, if you are already caught up on all of your requirements, take classes you absolutely love. At the end of the year, the sun is out, you are so close to being done, and usually the last thing you want to do is be in class.

So make sure at the beginning of the year to sign up for classes you won't want to skip.

And overall for every grade, don't let yourself miss out.

Go to all the events, games, meets and dances. You want to look back at high school and be able to say, I really did make the most out of it.

Also, I've written for the Statesman Journal for a while now, and it's been such an amazing experience. If this is something that interests you, go for it!

You can contact my editor at edicicco@StatesmanJournal.com.

I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe graduation. Way to go 2009!

Ashley Fischer is a senior at McKay High School. Contact her at CheerCutie621@comcast.net.