Posted: Thursday, October 2, 2008 12:00 am
Here are autobiographies written by the teenage writers and photographers comprising this year's Young Voices journalism team:
Morgan Christensen
Hello! My name is Morgan Christensen. I am a 15-year-old sophomore at South Albany High School. I am the youngest of three and was raised right here in Albany.
I live part time with each of my parents. My moms name is Johanna and she lives with her partner of three years, Russ along with our cat, Nigel and dog Dezi. My dad David, and my step mom Lynne also live in Albany along with our two cats Tom and Tomisina. I also have two older siblings Neah who is a senior at South Albany High School and Brandon who is in his sophomore year at Portland State University this year.
I have always had an interest in both visual art and writing but haven't pursued either of them until recently. I have taken art classes at South and LBCC including ceramics and drawing courses as well as writing and advanced English classes. Lately my main focuses in life have been on writing and art.
In the past I have been involved in many sports such as basketball, volleyball, and dance but decided that they aren't for me. I keep myself busy by taking extra courses at LBCC and by being a part of the Political Awareness Club at school.
When I'm not drawing or with friends I am usually reading or outdoors. I love literature and classic novels such as The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, and I am often caught with a book by my side. Although I love reading, I also enjoy the outdoors. My family and I go white water rafting every summer and it has given me an appreciation for nature as well as an eagerness for adventure.
I look forward to writing about important and local topics and having a voice in the community!
Hannah DeMers
My name is Hannah DeMers. I am sixteen years old, and a junior at WAHS. This is my second year with Young Voices. I love photography. Its a huge passion of mine that I want to pursue when I graduate from high school. I also love playing the piano. Its something that helps me relax when I am stressing out. My friends and family mean a lot to me. Tristan DeMers (25) is my brother. Thomas, Tony, and Russell are my step brothers. Elya(21) and Paris(13) DeMers are my sisters. And also Mollie Capaci (9). I love with my mom and step dad, Rollie and Lonna Capaci. My dad Timothy DeMers and his wife Dianna live in Sutherlin. I have ten nieces and nephews, and I love them all so much.
I am very much into music, like the rest of my generation. My favorite band is Coldplay. They have inspired to play the piano more. I also love the oldies. Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin, Billie Holiday, Janis Joplin and many others. Reading is also something I enjoy doing. I have too many favorite books to name. I dont play any school sports. But I do love tennis, volleyball, basketball, and baseball with my friends and family. My best friend is Katie Hart. We met over myspace a little over a year ago, and have been inseparable ever since. I dont know what I would do without her.
Jessica Glaser
My name is Jessica Glaser. I am thirteen-years-old, and am a homeschooled ninth grader. My parents are Mark, who is a logger, and Sara, who is a stay-at-home mom and Creative Memories consultant. Our family lives on twenty acres near Scio. Gretchen, my sister, is married to Merritt; they have a ten-month-old baby girl named Ruth Ann. My oldest brother graduated from Patrick Henry College and is now attending Pepperdine School of Law. Caleb, my younger brother, is in the fifth grade. Our pets include a Golden Retriever, seven cats, and two sheep.
Several of my interests are playing the harp and piano, knitting and cross-stitching, reading old books, studying American history, keeping informed on current politics, hunting, and watching NFL football. A new study for this school year is the French language. Recently I have been the pianist for our church, Scio Baptist.
I have been to thirty-three states and two Canadian provinces. I have been blessed with the opportunity to see such sights as Mount Rushmore; the Statue of Liberty; Gettysburg; Monticello; and Mount Vernon. During our last visit to Washington D. C., we were able to tour the White House and the Capitol, and go up into the Washington Monument. We frequently visit my sister on her family's farm in Washington State, and also my grandparents' 400-acre ranch in Northern California.
I hope to attend a Christian college someday and major in Music Education. Currently, however, I enjoy my role as a student and auntie.
Melinda Guillen
My name is Melinda Guillen and I am a 15 year old sophomore at South Albany High School. My parents are Jaime and Delia Guillen, and my only sister's name is Olivia.
I am co-focus editor for the double page spread on my school newspaper, The Sentry, and I enjoy every minute of it. Writing is intense, thrilling, and fun to me. This past summer, I attended a minority journalism camp that The Oregonian had funded and learned more in that one week training than I had since I discovered my writing talent. We managed to put out a paper in just seven days; a feat that few high school students have been able to achieve. You could say that this was one of my proudest moments.
I am now part of the online teen blog program on the Oregonian website, where I get to voice my opinion on things or just keep Oregon updated on Albany; a town that is unfortunately almost unheard of in other places.
Apart from writing, my time is consumed by playing varsity soccer for my school. Being part of the team is incredible, and we are getting better by the day. You may have seen me in some pictures that the Democrat-Herald's photographer took of me in action at one of our games.
I also love to read, run, and help out at my church and community. This year I have started joining Key Club, an organization that basically does good deeds for the community. I will also be joining the Rachel's Challenge group that is starting up on the 30th of September. My favorite subjects in school are science, math, and newspaper.
With my past experiences in writing, I am excited to get new insights on writing for a newspaper.
Katie Hart
I'm Katie Hart. I'm currently fifteen, with my sixteenth birthday just around the corner. I'm a sophomore, attending West Albany High School. I'm the daughter of Stacy Hart and Dean Boyer and was recently adopted by, Larry Zahn, my moms' husband of almost three years.
I have two best friends who are like sisters to me, Bree and Mikala Brinson. Then there is Hannah DeMers, I have no idea how to explain how much of an inspiration she is. These girls and I do everything together. We have a lot of classes together at West Albany High School. It's definitely hard to find me without one of the three of them.
I have a passion for photography. I currently own four cameras, two film SLR cameras and two digital cameras. I take a lot of pictures of the outdoors, but my favorite picture to capture is of people in black and white. They always seem to look more elegant than color pictures.
I enjoy participating in 4-H with my animals and riding horses. It's really rewarding to compete at the Linn County Fair with animals that you've raised. In my spare time I enjoy writing about what goes on in a teenagers' daily life. I plan on writing a novel, so people know a lot of the emotions running through teens' lives. And with writing comes reading, I enjoy reading a lot. It's really fun to me, and I love getting to know the characters throughout the novels I read.
Bethany Henry
Hi, my name is Bethany Henry. I am a home schooled freshman. This will be my second year writing for Young Voices, so I'm looking forward to another great year.
I was born 14 years ago in Glendale, Arizona, but I now live on a farm southeast of Scio with my parents Mike and Terri Henry and my siblings Emily, 9, Micah, 6, and Ryan, 3.
When I'm not doing school assignments, I enjoy biking, going on hikes with my friends, acting, and designing anything from posters to CD albums covers. I also like music, books, and movies, especially action or comedy. For school, my mom wanted me to have a basic education in art. I wasn't too thrilled about that (I was thinking impressionism, Renaissance), until I realized that modern, abstract art (often found on album covers) is considered to be art also!
Right now, I am not sure where my future will take me regarding a job or career. But recently I have been thinking that a doctor might be a good profession to consider. I have an interest in medicine and from my experience, cleaning up wounds does not make me queasy. But who knows? At this point, I'm not taking anything too seriously.
Although I'm involved and busy with things all week long, most of all I look forward to the evenings when we have family night. Every Sunday, my family and I take turns choosing what we will do together that night, whether it be playing a board or card game, watching a movie with popcorn, listening to an audio CD, or going on a bike ride. More often than not it ends up being the movie. Which means I have to pause it a million times. To explain this: Did I mention it was family night? Which includes my wild three-year-old brother who constantly runs into the kitchen bringing back candy, Coke, grapes, yogurt, anything he can lay his little hands on. Yep, it's family night all right. And as crazy as it may get, deep down I love it.
Samanthia Heward
Hi my name is Samanthia Heward, I am a 13 year old girl who is aspiring to be a writer. I go to Calapooia Middle School and i am in the 8th grade. Writing is my greatest passion, I even participated in our schools writers club the past 2 years.I am also classified as talented and gifted by the state. Just last year i had to take the writing assessment and I got all 4's and a few 5's.I am also computer savvy.
My favorite subjects in school are math and Spanish. I am also part of our schools leadership where you are graded on your community service projects.Last summer i helped out the library and had a blast. I love helping out people. Speaking of the library, i would have to say that my favorite books are the Twilight Saga. Once I started reading those books i could not put them down. Although writing is my greatest passion, I also enjoy volleyball. I am going to play spring volleyball this year too.Just like i did last year.
I was born in Corvallis, Oregon on July 28,1995 and I live with my mom, Brandi Heward.I also live with 2 of my siblings, Timothy and Trinity. My other 2 sisters live with my Father and Step mom in Texas.This year i even went down there. I also went to Texas to visit my Grandma, Aunt and Cousins.I also have a step brother and sister who live in Portland.
Kathy Lu
More than 20 years ago, my parents moved from China to America, hoping for higher education, a cleaner environment, and overall better lives. They got all of that, but received something else as well-me, the second child that would not have been possible back in China.
Born in New York, New York sixteen years ago, I moved around with my family frequently, settling for a while in New Jersey, Illinois, and then finally Oregon. This year will be my seventh in Corvallis, the longest I have ever stayed in one place. Out of the many cities in which I have lived, I would probably call Corvallis the most beautiful. The color green seems to envelop the entire city year-round.
Here in Corvallis, I study at Crescent Valley High School, and I am currently in my junior year. Debating and reporting are my biggest interests right now. I just love words. Ever since I was a toddler, I spoke two languages: English and Chinese. The two are so different, but as a child, I juggled those differences without much thought. Now I love to delve into the intricacies of the two languages. They are very different, true, but they have some astonishing similarities as well. I like to think that my knowledge of the Chinese language has helped me master the English language all the more completely, as well as vice versa
Tedi Massey
I am the unique one of the group. I am a mixture of every style possible. I'm the girl who would wear flowers in my hair and spikes on my belt. This unique style shines through my personality and shows others to be true to themselves, rather than follow the crowd.
I believe the crowd to be like sheep. Baah. I am the black sheep.
Star Wars and chilling movies are my favorites. Fighting off ghosts with light sabers; heck yes my friend.
Right now I have a love for Tracy Chapman's Fast Car. Music keeps me sane. It is soothing and gives me inspiration toward my writing.
I believe the body to be beautiful. If clothes were optional, I'd opt not to wear them. Why hide such from the world?
I have two sisters, KC and Mckenna, who are 14 and 9 years old. My mom, Brandi, has given me all the support in the world. Without my family, I would not have ever thought to be a writer, or pursued in being one. I owe all my love to them.
My youngest sister, Mckenna, showed me that if you think something looks good, then it does. Other's opinions do not matter, just as long as you feel good. KC taught me how to truly be confident in myself. She is such a strong person, you just can't help but be one too. My mom. Oh my mom. She led me to be the person I am today. She is my best friend and confidant.
I am a free spirit, the wild child, and a friend to everyone. I am me: Tedi Massey.
Sarah Moreau
My name is Sarah Whitney Moreau and I was born on Sept. 1, 1992.
I lived a normal life until about four months after my ninth birthday. On Christmas night 2001, I got very sick. I was taken to the hospital two days later and almost didn't make it. The diagnosis: type 1, or juvenile, diabetes.
I was informed that type 1 diabetes is a disease that causes my pancreas to stop producing insulin. It won't ever go away.
I then found myself pricking my finger and injecting insulin into my body, each five times a day. My life was changed forever. To be honest, I can't even recall life without injections and counting carbs.
My ethnic background revolves around the Pacific Island culture. I am part Indonesian, which has given me a taste for ethnic foods, Indonesian being my favorite. I have also learned about the Muslim culture, as my grandmother was a Muslim in Indonesia before coming to America and converting to Christianity. My Christian faith is a big part of my life.
I am a sophomore at South Albany and co-editor of the focus section of the Sentry.
Kevin Rackham
I'm Kevin Rackham of Albany. I was born March 6, 1993, and I'm a sophomore at South Albany High School. I do pretty well in school - in areas that aren't math-related, at least. My favorite classes are English and newspaper. I'm the news editor for South's paper, the Sentry. I think I want journalism to be my career, so naturally I was excited at the possibility of writing for Young Voices.
Journalism is kind of a new discovery for me. I never really was that interested in newspapers or writing until seventh grade when I read a book called "The Truth," by Terry Pratchett. It was a fictional, satirical book about a newspaper and the staff that ran it. It made me realize how important the truth was and how important it was for people to know the truth and be informed about the world going on around them.
I suppose it says a lot about my personality that a book inspired me that much. Books have always been important to me.
But more important than books are my family and friends. My parents have always been there for me and supported me. They also shelled out the money for a private school education and numerous other things, like Legos when I was a kid, glasses and treatment to correct my lazy eye, and trips to Washington, D.C.
Kyle Rankin
Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Kyle Rankin. I'm a 6-foot-4 16-year-old, homeschooled and not ashamed of it even though I'm finding my junior year to be more than I expected.
My family includes my parents, Lee and Barb; my younger brothers, Tyrell, 14, Joseph, 12, and Wesley, 10. Family pets - by order of importance - are: one dog (Kahuna), two cats (Puss and Smokey), seven pigs (eventual dinner), 23 chickens.
Yes, I could say that I live on a farm but only because of the 22 acres of Ponderosa pine that are in my back yard. You see, my family is tree farmers and yes, I can run a chain saw.
My taste in music varies with my setting, but I'll usually go for Christian contemperary or country. My favorite songs are "Gone" by Switchfoot and "More Than a Memory" by Garth Brooks. I personally believe that, if you want to understand a song, not only do you have to listen to the entire song, you have to place yourself in the shoes of either the artist or someone in the song.
Afton Rodgers
Hi. My name is Afton Rodgers - this is my second year writing for the Democrat Herald's Young Voices. I'm a senior in Sweet Home High School and 18 years old. I'm the oldest daughter of Sean and Shana Rodgers, and big sister to Taylar, Karson, and Nelson. We live in Sweet Home, Oregon - aka one of the most beautiful places in the world!
I'm an alto in the SHHS Symphonic Choir, where I also serve as Choir President and Pianist. I've recently tried to re-learn how to play the viola, but sadly haven't gotten very far…
I'd have to say that while I love choir and music, English is by far my favorite subject. I plan on majoring in English - Creative Writing when I attend college. And as far as college goes, I'm planning on attending BYU-Idaho.
Well, seeing as I'm writing this just after getting home from camping on the coast, I'll throw in that I really love the outdoors. I don't mind getting dirty - or in this case, sandy - and I like to camp, hike, bike, and just be outside in general. Be it rain or shine, I love it. (I actually really do love the rain here.)
My ultimate goal in life is to learn - and by learn, I don't just mean scholastic learning. I mean learning about different cultures, different people, different times and situations… I'm a curious person.
In short, there's really no other way to put it: I'm Afton.
Taylar Rodgers
My name is Taylar Rodgers. I was born in Durango, Colorado and raised in Utah, Arizona, and Oregon. I attend Sweet Home High School as a hard-working, 15-year-old, sophomore- and at the same time, a humor-loving, talkative teenager. My parents are Sean and Shana Rodgers who have given all of their time to raise myself and my sisters, Afton (18) and Karson (12), and my brother Nelson (8). Some of my hobbies include outdoor activities (hiking, fishing, etc.), running, playing the piano, singing, and making people laugh. I love being surrounded with friends and family. I also enjoy being involved in my community and church, and devoting my time and talents to help in whatever way I can. For the past few years, I have had the opportunity to volunteer for the Peer Court system in the city. Through this organization, I developed greater compassion for those who make bad choices. Being able to redirect them in a better path was a very good experience as well. I am also involved in the Youth City Council of Sweet Home, and have the chance to help organize get-togethers for the youth in the city, as well as being a mouthpiece for kids who feel in need of change for the area. I was also a participant in the class board for the freshman last year. These experiences have proved to me that even as a teenager, you can make a positive difference in the world. Oh, and I love cheese and David Archuleta too.
Rebekah Straw
My name is Rebekah Straw and I have lived on a farm all of my 13 ¾ years. I have a 21 year-old sister Jennifer, who has also written for the Democrat Herald and just got back from spending the summer in Africa. I also have two brothers. Kevin (age 18 ½) is in Ohio going to college and Matthew (15 ¾) has worked in Addy, Washington part of this past summer. My Dad (Eric) teaches at Corban College in Salem and my Mom (Margie) is a stay-at-home-mom. We children have all been home-schooled and I am currently in 8th grade.
We have ten head of cattle, two ducks, five cats and my 23 year-old horse Missy. This spring we had to put down our 13 year-old dog Lady. I love being outside with the animals, or walking around in the woods.
I enjoy painting, photography, reading, writing, cooking, sewing, hiking, riding my horse and spending time with almost any animal. We are involved in a local church and all of our family have been involved in the Awana clubs.
I am looking forward to writing for the Democrat Herald this year.
Stacie Struble
Hello, hello! My name is Stacie Struble, and I happen to be 15 years old. That means driving, baby! Yes, it's true that 15 can be a very exciting time in your life, and I am definitely looking forward to these remaining few months until I turn 16 in November.
This year, I will be a sophomore at South Albany High School. I'm really excited because I'm no longer a brand new, fresh from middle school freshman. I'm excited to take some new classes, including newspaper, and leadership. I'm a good student, one that people might call a nerd! I've learned that to be successful at anything, you need to give your best effort. That means doing your homework before the last minute, and going the extra mile.
I really like school, and learning about new things. Also, on my list of "favorite things about high school" are sports, friends, and cute guys. Aren't I funny? The sports that I participate in are soccer, swimming and track. I have been playing soccer since first grade! I love the feeling of working with a team to win. And scoring a goal is just an awesome feeling. Swimming is basically my life. It takes so much work, effort and time, but in the end it's definitely worth all the hours. I swim on the Albany Aquatics Association team, and I've grown to know and love my teammates like my second family, we're so close. Being a part of this team since the age of six, it has taught me so much about life. Skills like perseverance, respect, confidence, and discipline. I will also return to swim on the SAHS swim team as well. Last year was so much fun, I couldn't pass it up! As for track, I'm new to that. I just started last year.
I started out trying pole-vaulting, which is a blast and a thrill. Near the end of the season, I also tried my hand (foot?) at sprinting. It was a really great experience that I plan on doing again.
Like any teenager, I enjoy just hanging around with my friends. We have some crazy times together. I also enjoy shopping, especially for shoes. I think I'm actually addicted to them.
Oh, you want me to actually talk about journalism and why I like it? Alright, I get the hint. Last year, I decided to be a part of the Young Voices program because my older sister had been doing it and I just thought it looked really cool. So I gave it a shot. And it was really fun! I'm not really into the writing aspect of the program, but I love to take pictures. I'm not really sure how I got into photography in the first place, but I'm glad I did. It's a way to express yourself without words. It's definitely a passion that I will carry on into my later years of life. If I'm around, it's likely that my camera will be around too. I never want to miss a moment.
Hailey Thomas
For those of you who don't know me, you have obviously never read any of my articles, so I will try my best to entertain you with what I would call my satirical, overly optimistic charm. I like to have fun when I write and I try to have my personality come through in my writing. I love pink and the fantastic, although often frustrating game of golf. I'm finally, at long last a senior this year, at West Albany High School, oh, and I play for West's golf team, which is where I got my nickname Pink from my coaches. Anyways, its been twelve long years and now I've finally made it, despite my parents efforts for me to stay as the same five year-old girl that played with her favorite Polly pockets and held tea parties with all her best stuffed animal friends, I'm finally the top dawg. Bulldog that is. I can't wait to graduate and go to college. I hope to one day be an engineer and I would like to go to OSU, mainly because I know they have a great engineering program, plus it's close to home, which is great for me. I love football and I'm a 49er faithful. My parents have a mixed marriage, my mom is a 49er fan and my dad is a raider fan. It's a bit like the Hatfield's and the McCoy's, well maybe not quite that bad, it's more like the beavers and the ducks, you can't have two of them in the same house. Nevertheless my mom was able to sway me from becoming a raider fan, pirates just don't appeal to little princesses. I'm currently in a fantasy football league with my parents and some other people, I don't currently have the best record in the league, but I'm still happy because my 49ers have one the last two games of the season, so hopefully we're on a roll and will continue winning. I know I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Besides pink, golf, and football, I also love country music, I've grown up listening to country music and it's something that's stuck with me. Oh, and anyone who knows me even a little bit knows I'm a fashionista. I know it's a position of high status, almost like royalty, to bad I can't convince anyone else of that. Anyways, I love shopping, and I love fashion, which is another thing my mom has passed down to me and thankfully I didn't get my dad's fashion sense, I think I'm going to have to give him a little make-over. But that's another story…
Emily Traylor
I was born fourteen years ago to my parents, Jane and Roger Traylor. I was born in Hillsboro, Oregon. When I was two years old my family moved to Corvallis. Then when I was four we moved to our newly built home in the countryside of Albany, where I currently live. A dog, cat, turtle, five chickens and a rooster all reside at our home.
Being able to live far away from the suburbs has given me the experience of growing my own vegetables, gathering eggs while they are still warm, and becoming associated and appreciative of worms and mud. I have been able to share these experiences with my two older brothers, Andrew, who is twenty, and William, who is seventeen. My mom has homeschooled us all since kindergarten. She will be teaching me ninth grade and William twelfth grade this fall. Andrew will be returning to OSU in September as a junior. He is majoring in Environmental Science. Both of my parents were born and raised in Tennessee. After getting married they moved to Massachusetts and then to Oregon. My dad is an Electrical Engineer at OSU and my mom used to teach in Special Ed.
My main interests are dance, music, art, drama, reading, writing, and hanging out with my friends. Dancing is one of the most important parts of my life right now. I am in my fifth year of ballet at my studio in Corvallis. I have just been promoted to level 5 in the syllabus. I am at the studio four times a week for up to two hours every class. I have also been playing the piano for five years.
Some of the things I would be interested in pursuing as careers include: an elementary schoolteacher, fashion designer, professional dancer and/or dance teacher, pediatrician, and author. I hope to write about adventures and experiences that will be interesting and challenging to others. As my favorite quote states, "Life is either and adventure or nothing." -Helen Keller.
Emily van Bronkhorst
On April 16, 1991, I was born in the Netherlands inside the house of my parents, Jean-Marie and Rene. Three years later, my parents made the fundamental decision to immigrate to the United States. My siblings Kelly, 22, and Kevin, 21, complete the van Bronkhorst family. Originally, our first place of residence in the United States was in Sweet Home, but we moved to Jefferson when I was 9. As of now, I am a senior at Lebanon High School. Through the many opportunities that are available in this country, I am able to go to LBCC, as I am involved in the Beyond LHS program. I am pursuing a major in Political Science. I find that the essential rights to vote, to voice opinions, and to assemble are all examples of why I live in a great nation. I feel that my background has provided a perspective that is highly valuable in understanding various cultures and political ideals.
Alyssa Villmann
My name is Alyssa Villmann, I'm 17 years old, a senior at Jefferson High School and a returner to the Young Voices section of the Democrat Herald. I spend most of my time playing soccer and doing homework, but when I'm not doing that, I'm writing, reading, making and enjoying art, riding my bike, and having coffee dates with those I love. I plan on attending college to study either art or journalism next year but other than that, I'm not entirely sure how my life is going to pan out.
I enjoy perspective more than anything, I enjoy creating mine on paper to show to the world as well as being able to look through someone else's - however they choose to show it. My high school years have offered me a lot of experiences to shape my own perspective as I have been involved in many different things such as: writing for the paper, working as a camp crew member, putting on a local art show, working for Northwest Youth Corps, and being involved in school activities such as soccer and the yearbook.
When I write, though, I write to show people different perspectives and I would love to cover stories of human interest, more than anything. I love writing about small businesses/organizations and little known (and maybe even under appreciated) things/people in order to show their true value to the world around us.
Basically, I am very interested in expanding my own-and anyone's who is willing to listen-world.
Taylor Wobig
As a sophomore at Santiam Christian High School and someone who enjoys playing volleyball, guitar, singing and writing I lead a busy life. My name is Taylor Wobig.
Last year I wrote for Young Voices and will continue this year as well. Writing is a way to take my mind off everything stressful going on, such as schoolwork.
I love being a sophomore at Santiam Christian, not only do I have to privilege to learn a lot but also have a great group of friends. I currently play on the JV volleyball team and have a great coach who is teaching our team valuable skills. I have a passion for volleyball and love to play it anytime and anywhere.
On my free time I love to play the guitar and sing. I also enjoy writing a songs. I love music, it's my escape. Whether I'm listening to it or playing it, it works for me.
This is most of my life and what I do in it. You'll continue to hear from me in the future.