Ferndale High School celebrates its valedictorians

The following are Q&As with Ferndale valedictorians

Aiden Otto

Grade-point average: 4.0

Where will you attend college? I am planning to attend Bellingham Technical College for at least two years.

As a child, what was the first thing you wanted to become when you grow up?

When I was little, I wanted to be a construction worker, just like my dad used to be. It changed to being a plumber for a little bit, but after elementary school I didn’t really know what I wanted to do when I grew up. All I knew was that I had an interest in computers and technology in general, and that jobs in computers are highly sought after. Only this year have I found what field I truly want to work in: IT. What are your career plans? I plan to have some sort of job in tech support, cyber security, or something

Helena Somers

Grade-point average: 4.0

Where will you attend college? I will be going to Western Washington University for the 23-24 school year.

As a child, what was the first thing you wanted to become when you grow up?

As a child, the first thing I wanted to become was an artist. I loved painting, drawing and crafting. Today, I still love the arts, and have also learned how to sew and work with ceramics. I would love to become a stop-motion animation artist, but I’m also interested in teaching, and in a totally opposite direction, medical surgery interests me.

What are your career plans?

Again, I am in between becoming some type of artist, either stop-motion or ceramic, a teacher of either art or math, and/ or a physician’s assistant with an interest in surgery.

What is the greatest thing you gained from your K-12 experience? What is the greatest thing you gained from attending your high school?

The greatest thing I have gained from my K-12 experience has been the friends I have made in both students and teachers. The greatest thing I have gained from my high school experience has been learning how to be more accepting of myself and expressing myself openly.

Who is your role model?

My role model is Sarah Lavender, teen librarian at the Ferndale branch of the Whatcom County Library System. I met her in sixth grade, and since then she has encouraged me to become engaged in the arts, theatre, and to be confident in being myself. She is a very caring, honest and hard-working person as well as a great friend.

What do you hope to be doing in five years? In 10 years? In 20 years?

In five years, I hope to be happy about my decision of which degree I’ll be working for, since right now I’m not sure which I’ll choose of the few careers that I’m thinking about. In 10 years, I hope to be else along those lines. I’m not too sure yet, but what really helped me narrow my choices down was the IT class I took this year, as it made me realize my true interest in working with computers. What is the greatest thing you gained from your K-12 experience? What is the greatest thing you gained from attending your high school?

I think the best things I’ve gained from school in general are the friends I’ve gained over time. They are the reason I enjoy life and they allow me to be my true self. From specifically high school, the greatest thing I’ve gained is knowing what I want to do after I finish high school. Not knowing what I wanted to be when I grew up made me stress a lot, but now that I know who I want to be, I’m able to relax a bit and have confidence in myself. Who is your role model?

If I had to name one, I’d have to say my working in a field that makes me happy. Perhaps if I follow the stop-motion path, I’ll be working on the next Laika film to be released. In 20 years, I hope to have a house and a family somewhere in the pacific northwest with chickens, mules and sheep. mom. She is so incredibly hard working, encouraging, and smart.

What is the most important thing in your life?

The most important thing in my life is loving other people. I feel that if we treated people with kindness more often, the world would be a better place. If just one person’s day can be made better, that’s success.

Who is the most important person in your life?

The most important person in my life is my younger sister Siri Somers, who was born before the Apple Siri came out (haha). She is a very kind, sensitive and funny person whom I love and respect beyond words. My sister and I have a very close relationship. We can be very silly together but we also support and care for one another very strongly.

What do you hope to be doing in five years? In 10 years? In 20 years?

In five years I hope my college education will have gone smoothly and I hope to have a well-paying job. As for 10 and 20 years, still having a well-paying job, but maybe with less student debt to pay off. What is the most important thing in your life?

The most important thing to me is happiness, both in myself and others. I aspire to make others happy because that’s one of the best feelings.

Who is the most important person in your life?

I can’t name just one, but my parents are the ones who make me feel the most confident in myself and who I am. They provide for me not only the necessities to live but the things that make life worth living.