Grade: 12

Family members: Mother, father, younger brother

Favorite subject: My favorite subjects are art and art history, because it doesn't feel like working at all; it's a way to have a solid block of concentrated time to study what I love. I also love history and English, because it's an opportunity to look into and deeply analyze work, may it be a document, book or a current event. It's also great to debate and counteract others' opinions and discuss them.

Activities: President of the Art Alliance at Charter Arts, Red Ten Club at Charter Arts, Bux-Mont Macintosh Users Group, Haycock Historical Society, yoga

Next steps: Immediately attend an art school in the Philadelphia area

Career goals: I'd like to pursue art education because I'd like to leave an impression on a student, and it's a variation of my passion.

Heroes: I admire Andrea Gibson ( a slam poet) because she challenges the boundaries between expressionism with words and full-on abstraction. I also admire Leonard Da Vinci because he took leaps and gladly challenged the unknown and wasn't afraid to fail a few times.

Hobbies: Painting, writing, playing with animals, hiking, reading, running, yoga, kayaking and generally any outdoor activity

Current job(s): F.P. Kolbe's, a family-owned three-generation old business in Point Pleasant

Volunteer/community work: Any logistical support for the art department at Charter Arts, spending hours each year helping prepare, put up and take down work for art shows, among other duties. TNR Program (trap, neuter, release), working to advance progress on a colony of endangered feral cats in my neighborhood

Likes: Deep colors, organic fruit and veggies, chickens, rabbits, ducks, mornings

Dislikes: Artist's block, feeling dirty, being uncomfortable, having teeth hurt

Greatest accomplishment (so far): I've done a few ambitious paintings that advanced my painting career by far and could be considered a "greatest accomplishment," but I personally believe it was when I mentally got past blocks that had me held up for a long time.

Advice for peers: You can take charge of anything. Working hard is not a negative, it's necessary to progress and its rewards are beyond belief.

Julia Swan coordinates students profiles for the Bethlehem Press.