STUDENTS IN

by RAC HEL KELLY

Jasmine Amelia Grace Lopez is a 17year-old senior at Gig Harbor High School. It is close to the end of the year, but she’s not quite decided on where she’ll go to school after graduation. She has applied to many different universities, and because of her good grades she has been accepted to all of them. She’s stuck deciding between two schools: Linfield University and Whitworth University. They are both offering her equal amounts of financial aid, and she will be making her decision in the coming months based on whichever school is able to offer her the most opportunity.

She may not have quite decided on where she’ll go next, but Jasmine is absolutely sure what she’ll do next. She plans to go to school for nursing and be a traveling nurse starting right after graduation. She has been in and out of the hospital since childhood and has been directly impacted by her nurses. Jasmine wants to provide children with the same comfort that she was given.

Right now, though, she is very busy in school. Her English class offers college credit while she’s still on the high school campus, and she’s busy with her Passion Project. This is an active project in line with each student’s passion that brings about real-world change. Jasmine’s focus is on inspiring the elimination of racial discrimination. Her Passion Project is consistent with her actions throughout her high school career; she started the first Black Student Union in the Peninsula School District as a place of refuge for students of color experiencing racial slurs and hate speech and to allow these students a voice.

Jasmine is also the student board representative for Gig Harbor High School. She uses this position as an opportunity to advocate for her classmates; to make sure that her school environment is one that benefits everyone. “Before I start doing something at school, I ask myself, ‘How will this impact current and future students? Will this make a lasting impact on students’ lives?’”

When Jasmine isn’t advocating or shooting for the stars, she’s expressing her emotion through art. She especially loves doing portraits of her favorite musicians or creating pieces for others. Art for her is an act of love. Going forward, she will carry this love with her.

Evante Heming, Senior

Peninsula High School

Evanté Heming is a 19-year-old senior at Peninsula High School. Evanté is nearing the end of his final year of high school, which means graduation! And his plans for the future are well underway.

Evanté is currently focusing on his school work, with all the tests and such that require his attention before he moves forward. Performing also consumes a lot of his time, both during and after school, as he is very involved in band and theater. He made state in solo and ensemble and recently performed at CWU (Central Washington University). It goes without saying that performance art requires hours and hours of consistent practice to ensure a smooth performance, and that can be a lot on top of everything else.

Creative expression through music and theater falls in line with Evanté’s plans for the future. “I am interested in taking on a career as a music educator and eventually becoming involved in music production and performance,” he shared. To achieve this, he will spend his first two years at Tacoma Community College, which will allow him to stay close to home and save money. From there he will transfer to a public university in sunny Florida to complete his four-year degree.

In addition to his performance art class, Evanté enjoys history, as he loves learning about the world and the events that make up its past. Aside from all his responsibilities at school, and his extracurricular activities, Evanté is also hard at work at the Tom Taylor YMCA in the Child Watch Department. When not in school, performing or at work, you will find him singing, reading, writing, and creating art. In all this he is supported by his teachers and school. Most importantly, he is supported by his family.

When asked which teacher was most inspirational to him, he is quick to respond that his mom is his favorite teacher. She taught him in the third grade, when he was in foster care. After she and her family adopted him, his third-grade teacher became his mom. She is now his lifelong teacher and role model.

With the love and support of his family, Evanté feels confident moving forward in the exploration of his art.