Grade: 12

Favorite subject: French. Foreign languages have always come very naturally to me. I find the concept of language and varied types of communication interesting. Being fluent in another language can enable me to communicate with people around the world that I would otherwise be unable to speak with.

Activities: Church youth groups, church choir, National Honor Society, Girl Scouts, ski racing, performing in school and local music ensembles

Next steps: Attend Gordon College in Wenham, Mass. (hopefully) as a music education major with a concentration on bassoon

Career goals: To become a high school band/orchestra director living in New England

Heroes: Eleanor Roosevelt: She was the wife of Franklin D. Roosevelt and was a pivotal figure in the creation of the United Nations. She was an advocate for women's rights, education, labor rights and was a humanitarian. I admire her because of her dedication to make a positive change in history and create her own legacy.

Hobbies: Reading, playing bassoon, skiing, sewing, piano

Current job(s): Cashier at Giant Food Stores

Volunteer/community work: Annual mission trips to Tennessee, Sunday school teacher, vacation Bible school leader, worship music team

Likes: Winter, snow, Disney movies, amusement parks

Dislikes: Dairy products, spiders, bugs, humidity

Greatest accomplishment (so far): My greatest accomplishment so far is that I participated in All-State Band in the spring of 2014. My goal ever since I began the bassoon was to make it to the All-State level and I accomplished this in my junior year of high school.

Advice for peers: Try and see the bigger picture. With the craziness of my final year of high school, I've been so focused on next year and getting accepted to college. It's forcing me to look to the future and think through how my decisions can affect my career and later life. I would advise other students to try and think about how your decisions affect the bigger picture. It will help you gain perspective and mature.

Julia Swan coordinates student profiles for the Bethlehem Press.

Student profile subjects are selected by faculty and administration at the individual schools.