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College or bust
6/8/2011 11:46:33 AM
By Kelly Moore
Splash Staff Writer
When her family moved from California to Washington, then third-grader Ashleigh Seely was immediately identified as an advanced student suited for the Able Learner Program at her school. The program caters to "highly capable" elementary school students throughout the Central Valley School District.
When she finished fifth grade, the University High School valedictorian gave a speech to Seely and her Able Learner Program classmates. Now a senior, Seely looks back on that day as a tiny spark to an impressive educational track record.
"I remember sitting there and thinking, ‘I could see myself doing that,'" Seely said.
And last week she did. Seely addressed graduating fifth-graders of the Able Learner Program - speaking as one of three Central Valley High School valedictorians - about the challenges and triumphs they can expect through middle and high school. Advertisement
A thirst for knowledge
Seely's zest for education started well before her involvement in the Able Learner Program. She remembers going with her grandma to drop off a friend at preschool and begging to stay.
"She could spell at age 2, and at 4 she was doing multiplication," her dad Ray Seely said. "That gives you an idea right off the bat. She's pretty smart."
Ashleigh Seely credits her grandma for kick starting her early education by teaching her to read and buying her books. While her mom Lisa Seely said that's true, she also said Ashleigh has always been self-driven.
"She always had a real thirst for knowledge, so as parents and grandparents, we were always trying to stay ahead of her," Lisa Seely said. "We'd think, ‘Oh, this will give her a challenge. This will keep her busy for a while.' She'd just burn through whatever workbook or game or puzzle we gave her."
That drive carried Ashleigh Seely through her educational career all the way to valedictorian at CVHS. However, the accolade wasn't necessarily her goal.
"I had a 4.0 GPA all through middle school just because I never wanted to get an A minus," Ashleigh Seely said. "I thought if that little extra effort would erase the little negative mark, it'd be worth it. …. Once I graduated from eighth grade, I thought I didn't really ever want to get less than a 4.0. I knew (being) valedictorian would be nice, but I didn't directly say, ‘I want to be valedictorian.' I just wanted a 4.0 because I didn't want that little negative sign."
Putting in the extra effort
Ashleigh Seely said her toughest classes were the "learn-on-your-own" ones. In those, she learned a few lessons that applied to more than her homework problems.
"Going above and beyond what's required for the class to be successful, that was the biggest lesson I've learned," Ashleigh Seely said. "Even though you're at school for six hours, you have to donate so many more hours to it. That was the biggest lesson, learning that things will happen and everything is achievable if you put in the effort."
That attitude helped her rip through advanced math classes. When she was a freshman, she tested out of the sophomore math class she was enrolled in by October and was bumped up to the next level mid-year.
"All my best teachers seem to be math teachers. I don't know if that's because they're the best, or if it's because I just like the subject so I don't mind," Ashleigh Seely said.
In addition to loading up on advanced classes, Ashleigh Seely manages to pack her schedule with extracurricular and social activities. She rounded out her high school career by participating in cross country, track, cheerleading, key club and French club.
"Sometimes it's kind of stressful, but everything seems to fall into place," she said. "It's stressful and hectic and busy, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I'd rather go out and do something than stay at home and watch TV."
Lisa Seely said her daughter likes to have fun with her friends and do other activities as well. Ray Seely also said she doesn't require much sleep.
"I think she's just really efficient at managing her time," Lisa Seely said. "She likes to have a pretty balanced life."
| CVSD Graduation Ceremonies
Barker High School
June 9 at 6:30 p.m.
ONE Church in Spokane Valley
Central Valley High School
June 11 at 11 a.m.
McCarthey Athletic Center at Gonzaga University
University High School
June 11 at 3 p.m.
McCarthey Athletic Center at Gonzaga University
For more information,
go to www.cvsd.org
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Looking forward
High school is not quite wrapped up, but Ashleigh Seely already knows where her next steps will lead. A grant from the University of Pennsylvania will make the out-of-state school more affordable than anything closer to home. She'll also be taking a handful of other scholarships with her - ones from Spokane Scholars, the Bloomsday Roadrunners Club, Friends of Pavillion Park and Liberty Lake Kiwanis.
"If there's something that you really want to do, I think you have to really focus on that and be willing to put in the effort for it," Ashleigh Seely said. "I've known for a very long time that I always wanted to travel. Now I'm going to Philadelphia and I'm sure I'll study abroad for one of my semesters."
In addition to the travel and adventure that lies ahead, she also plans to try out for the cross country team. However, she's taking her time on picking a field of study.
"Right now I'm very undecided as to what I'm going to do in college," Ashleigh Seely said. "I'll go into math or at least look at math to start. Since I don't know what I'm going to do, I might as well start with something that I love. If something else comes along, then I'll look into that, too."
In the meantime, like many of her classmates, she is just trying to make it through her last few days at CVHS.
"This is her moment," Lisa Seely said. "This is something she's worked hard at. I'm just happy that she is able to have this feeling that the world is at her feet. We're her parents, but this is something she wanted. She just allowed us to be along for the ride."
Ready to walk the stage
High school seniors share unique stories, hopes for future
By Kelly Moore
Splash Staff Writer
The Splash recently sat down with a handful of notable Liberty Lake graduates to find out what kind of work goes into getting this far - and what the road ahead might look like.
Brian Otte
In addition to earning Eagle Scout honors, Liberty Lake resident Brian Otte played three years of high school football and tutors younger students in math - and he keeps up on current events and issues.
"I really want to be a bigger person when I grow up, a leader, and you can't really do that if you have no idea what's going on," Otte said. "I just want to understand all these different conflicting viewpoints from Democrats, Republicans or Libertarians."
Of course, he stays current with his schoolwork too. This year he finished an advanced-level calculus course he said challenged him all the way to the end.
"I think of my education as an investment," Otte said. "It's not only an investment in my future financial situations, but it's mostly for my happiness too. If you're walking around and you feel like you're in fear because you can't comprehend your world, you'll be insecure."
Otte is currently on the wait list for the Air Force Academy, and he's holding out for an opening. If that doesn't pan out, he's prepared to attend Brigham Young University where he'll participate in the ROTC program.
"It's been kind of weird," Otte said. "I've been in a state of limbo for the last few months. The Air Force Academy is really where I want to be."
Regardless of where he goes, he thinks he might like to study dentistry.
"I know people change their majors all the time, but I've always wanted to be an orthodontist - ever since like fourth grade," Otte said. "Now I really like law, so I think I could be a good lawyer too."
Jace Parker
Most of his classmates will be relaxing this summer, but Jace Parker will be busy applying for his Unites States citizenship.
Born in Saskatchewan, Parker lives in Liberty Lake as a legal resident with a green card, but he's still a Canadian citizen. He sent in for an application earlier this year, and now he's working through the process. His parents have both gone through naturalization and are dual citizens.
"(The packet) asks just about every question you can think of," Parker said. "They don't mess around."
In the meantime, Parker is enjoying his last few days at school and soaking in the memories with friends he'll miss.
"I'm ready to move on," Parker said. "I'm excited to graduate and see what else is out there."
Parker plans to study math at Western Washington University with the possibility of pursuing a career in secondary education. He's also considering engineering.
Hannah Robb
Last March, Hannah Robb was named Miss Spokane Valley for 2010-2011. The honor, one that came as a surprise to her, arrived with more than just a crown and a sash.
"It's a scholarship program, so we did a lot of festivals and parades," Robb said. "It was really busy all summer long, but it was really fun."
She credits the win to her involvement in the community and school in areas of leadership, tutoring, sports and French club. She also started a small business selling crepes at the Liberty Lake Farmers Market last summer.
"I just get really bored," Robb said. "If there's something to be involved in, I don't see why you shouldn't be involved in it."
Robb plans to attend Colorado State University in the fall. She hasn't totally decided on her field of study, but she'd like to double major in business and something else.
Penny Zhang
Graduating with a 3.95 GPA, Liberty Lake's Penny Zhang will wrap up her senior year with 10 Advanced Placement courses under her belt. She also stays busy as a flutist in the school band and a member of the Knowledge Bowl team, National Honor Society and the Liberty Lake Youth Commission.
Her parents inspired her dedication to academic work early on, she said, but as she grew older she honed in her focus all on her own. Despite her academic accomplishments, Zhang considers life lessons as some of the greatest knowledge she's received.
"You can't ever understand someone," Zhang said. "You have to be open. Everyone has good in them."
Zhang plans to attend the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business next fall.
Javier Zuniga
By the end of his freshman year and early on in his sophomore year, Zuniga said he was holding on by a thread. Zuniga came to Liberty Lake via California his freshman year, and he'll be the first to tell you he wasn't too excited about it.
"I guess it was the fact we moved that made me mad," Zuniga said. "I just wanted to go home. I was acting like a rebel… At one point I though about dropping out. But now I'm here just a few days away from graduating."
A turning point came when his sophomore math teacher made him pull up his grades before signing off for him to attend a special winter camp. He said he was able to bring up his grade in her class, and the positive attitude spilled over into other classes as well.
"I settled down a lot and grew into this kind of CV family," Zuniga said. "Everyone knows me now, and I have lots of friends."
Despite the rocky road leading up to his walk across the stage, Zuniga doesn't plan to stop there.
"I'm definitely going to college," Zuniga said. "In my family it's kind of just an option. I'll be the first in my family to go. To me I have to go. I want to go."
Splash intern Julia Marquiss contributed to the reporting for this story. A graduating senior at Central Valley High School, Marquiss has been involved in volleyball, Key Club, DECA, orchestra, Spanish Club and JSA throughout her high school career in addition to interning for The Splash. Her favorite memories include football games, pulling pranks on teachers and her senior year. She plans to attend the University of Washington next fall, and if she isn't attending grad school five years from now, she hopes to be traveling around Europe.
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