I like to play basketball and to read. And sing sometimes, like, at the top of my lungs sing. I like Drake, Halsey and Ariana Grande.

I do arts and crafts after school. I recently made myself an organizer to organize my stuff, because when I study I like having everything in one folder. I had an empty notebook and I put a folder pouch inside and some pens and pencils and a photo. So, I’m pretty organized now.

I have four options I am deciding between for what I want to be when I grow up. I want to either be in the military, be an interior designer, FBI field agent or WNBA basketball player. They are all pretty different so it makes it hard to choose.

I lifeguard at the Bow Creek Recreational Center. I swim there too. I keep in shape. When I get some rare free-time at home I may play some games – maybe some Fortnite.

My mom and dad both put me in wrestling when I was in middle school. It wasn’t until I joined the Beach Boyz Wrestling club that I really got serious about it.

There is a lot of dedication and work that goes into wrestling. It’s been hours upon hours every day to stay on top of your game. I’ve taken away a lot of life skills from wrestling too. It helped me learn discipline and keeps you in shape for your GPA. My coach always asks, “What can you take away from this to use in your day-to-day life?” It’s not just lessons about wrestling, it’s about improving yourself.

I am the head custodian in the building. I make sure the building is clean, make sure we have supplies, take care of our equipment, throughout the course of the day I maintain the building and on top of that I still try to find time to help out with the kids. I do a lot of tutoring and mentoring and help out where I can. It takes a village, and we are a village.

I read a lot. I’m an avid reader and do crossword puzzles. I do things that keep the mind sharp.

I’ll read anything. If I pick it up and it strikes my fancy I’ll read it. I read love stories, I read biographies, I read action-adventure and fantasy. If it strikes my interest I’ll read it.

So many books are being made into movies now, but the book is always better because you can use your imagination more in a book than a movie.

I like arts and crafts and listening to music. I try to stay active and not go electronics. I enjoy doing gymnastics and riding my bike. I like trying new things.

I’m a team leader for my school’s Anchored 4 Life program. I really enjoy it because it lets me help other people if they are new to the school, moving away or family is on deployment. I’m here to help them. We work as a team and take turns helping each person.

When I grow up I want to be a photographer. I also might be a teacher because I like helping people.

Swim is my life. My parents started me in swim lessons when I was two and I never quit. I love the feeling of achieving something when you work hard.

Our team recently won at States. I won the 200 meter IM (individual medley), 500 free and our two relays both won.

My entire life is school, swim and sleep.

Teachers have taught people so many things. And it leads those people to get their jobs and do their work. So teachers hold up society.

I love baseball. My favorite baseball player is Yadier Molina. I play on the school’s baseball team as the catcher. I’m originally from Columbia. I’m here with my mother and my father is still in Columbia. We’ve been here for only four months.

I first started baseball after a man came to my school one day when I was eight- or nine-years-old and taught my class about the game. He said I was really good. He spoke to my mother and she was happy because she had always loved baseball.

I grew up around water, so I really like water sports. I lived in Hawaii from most of my life. When I was seven we moved here because my dad was in the military.

When I’m not in school I am on a recreational swim team and water polo. Water polo is really fun because it’s swimming but you have to use your arms. You have two teams, you have a ball and you try to get the ball in a small soccer-like goal. You have to use your arms to throw the ball. If you use any other part of your body you get a penalty.

I worked in pediatrics then switched to cardiology for like 10 years, and I loved it. Then, I felt the need for a change and feel like I found my niche in this age group. I had forgotten how much I enjoy working with children. It’s a great age. I have three kids of my own, all went through Centerville. The youngest one is still here. I feel like I get to use my motherly instincts here on top of my nursing knowledge.

I enjoy photography. I started when my oldest was born and took photos of him and just kept it up. I feel like everyone needs a hobby. It’s my little thing that I can do for myself that gives me self worth, and more than a mom and a nurse.

My dad wrestled in high school and college, he actually went to FC, and he got me involved in the elementary and middle school clubs and I just grew up in the program. At FC, this year we had one of our best years. We qualified eight people for the state tournament, which tied for most-ever. I won the state’s this year and last year.

I want people to know that I’m not just a wrestler, I’m interested in my academics too. I’m pretty proud of my 4.2 and rising GPA. I’ll be wrestling for Washington and Lee University next year. I don’t have to declare my major until sophomore year, but I’m looking at something in business.

I’m also the captain of the golf team. I’ve been on that for four years. We were state qualifiers. I help out with my middle school’s wrestling program too. At home, I do some Virginia Beach things, like skating and surfing.

I’m one of the security assistant here at Landstown High. I mainly sit at the front desk. I’m usually the first point of contact for someone entering the school and am there to greet students and parents and make sure everyone entering into the building should be in the building.

I’m a parent of a couple of kids to attend Virginia Beach schools and I wanted to do something that allowed me to give back and be part of the school community. I’m here because I want to be here and I love it. I care about making a difference and doing my part in keeping the kids safe. For me, it’s personal because I’m a parent. I want the best for every student that walks through these doors, just like I want the best for my own children.

I can’t hear. I was born Deaf. Every Friday I go to art. I like oil chalk and blending the colors together to make backgrounds. My goal is to do all the colors. I normally use scrap paper before I make the final drawing to practice.

I really enjoy graphic novels. My favorite author is Cece Bell. She inspires me because she’s Deaf. Her book that I really like is called El Deafo. I really love reading and spending time in the library. I help in the library by checking in or out books for other kids sometimes too. It’s a lot of fun.

When I was born I wasn’t able to hear. I have cochlear implants and they have a galaxy design on them. I just got these. As I get bigger I get new ones to fit me better.

Everyone is known for something and it’s our job to find out what that is. It’s not about fitting in with everybody. It’s about being yourself, standing out and not being afraid to show it to the world. What makes us different from others is what makes each person unique. Don’t be a follower, be a leader.

I’m going to be a ballerina one day, a prima ballerina. I want to be in the Nutcracker ballet. My sister just turned three so we are signing her up too, because they allow sign-up at three. Last year she was too young.

I can’t wait to start ballet lessons with my little sissy. Her name is Karen and she has blond hair as bright and shiny as the sun or maybe even lemon yellow. She sparkles and shines just like the diamonds on my bow.

I’m excited and nervous to go to middle school next year. It will be bigger and I will probably forget my locker combination, but I think after a week or two I’ll be adjusted. I’ll be going to Princess Anne Middle School. One thing that I hope to continue when I’m there is art. I like art a lot and am in the Old Donation School program right now.

When I’m not at school I do martial arts. I have a gray/black belt in jiu jitsu and I’ve also been doing muay thai for several months. Muay thai is more punching and kicking and jiu jitsu is arm bars and choking, so I’ve learned different things from each. I really enjoy going on competitions and tournaments with my Dojo because we go as a big group and it’s a lot of fun.

I’m really interested in the Governor’s STEM at Landstown. I went to their open house and they had different classes that we went to as part of the open house. I originally went there thinking I would be interested in architecture, but when I went there the engineering class really called to me. Instead of drawing the building, it was more about what it was made of and how well it can hold up against the physical, environmental and other factors surrounding it.

My first sentence when I was little was “Local on the eights,” from the Weather Channel. I always loved weather and when I was in fifth grade I wanted to be a tornado chaser, but I’ve matured from that and am now more concerned about the engineering side of things. My ultimate goal is to design weather-resistant buildings. A building – not a bunker – a real building that looks good on the outside, houses people regularly and can also withstand a category F-3 tornado, with minimal damage or a category F-4 or F-5 with minimal damage and minimal casualties. By merging my interests of meteorology and architecture I hope to start a new way of how buildings are created.

I like third grade, but the only thing I don’t love is that we have a lot of tests. I have a test tomorrow on reading, but I think I’ll do OK on it. My favorite part of school right now is art because I really like painting and making sculptures. I do art at home too.

When I grow up I want to be a police officer. Police officers help people and I really like helping people. It’s also really cool when they drive in the police car with the lights on. I really like their uniforms too. After I graduate from school I’ll go to school to learn to be a police officer.

My class went to the science lab yesterday and made oobleck. Oobleck is like slime, but it can be slimy and hard too. When you put your hand in it, it’s soft and slimy, but when you make it hard, it’s hard as a rock.

When I get older I want to be in a movie, like Descendants 4. If there is ever a Descendants 4 I would want to be in it. I like pretending and dressing up. I pretend to make videos of myself in my mirror. I usually make slime videos and make-up tutorials.

In interested in science. In math there is only one right answer, in science there could be a number of answers why something is happening. I’m also into sports too. Every time I get hurt during practice or a game I’ll ask what part of the body, bone or muscle was effected.

Recently, after speaking to my activity coordinator, I started playing soccer. I also play basketball and track and he saw me running and said I should try it out. My dad played soccer, so I grew up playing it and now I play for school. But, track is still my favorite. This year I think I want to try sprinting instead of distance running.

Many people want to be successful. They want to be an astronaut, they want to have the best grades, they want to be the best football player. And they imagine themselves with the rewards and benefits of being what they want to be. But they don’t know what it means to want to be that person. What I would suggest to younger students who have a goal is to imagine themselves doing what it takes to achieve that goal. Don’t imagine yourself on the podium in first place. Imagine yourself in practice. Practicing to be in first place. I wrestle. So when I’m at home, I imagine myself wrestling. I imagine myself doing the moves. I don’t imagine myself on the podium, waving my hands, smiling, taking photos. It’s not important to actual wrestling.

The rewards that you want are not what you should yearn for. You should yearn for practicing. You should be able to accept a friend asking you to go to a party, and you turning them down, because you need to study. Lots of students would rather go to that party because that party will help them fit in. I want to stand out. So I’ll be that standout. I’ll be the one to say “no” so I can sit there and study and be the best I can be.

I love being a security guard because it allows me to be involved with all the kids. Being a security guard I see everybody – all the kids, all the staff members and all the administrators – and am someone who is able to put a smile on all their faces.

When interacting with the kids I try to be an extension of their parents. Being a parent – I have two sons myself – you send your children off to school and hoping they are safe and watched over. I talk to these kids and give them advice like their parents would talk to them and give them the same type of love their parents would give them.

Everyday I try to leave a legacy. Each day I want to leave a positive impact on someone’s life. I believe that as adults and as children we struggle in life because we don’t know our purpose. Once you find your purpose life becomes easier because you know what you are here to do.

Instead of shouting at a child running down the hallway or being a little disruptive, instead of saying, “Stop running,” I rather say, “Hey, coming here. How was your weekend?” You never know what they are going through, sometimes they just need someone to talk to and are acting out for attention. I try to be that person they can confide in.

I think high school will be a little challenging, but I’m ready for it. I like a challenge. I’m wanting to join the academy at Salem. I want to take art classes.

When I’m not at school I listen to music, play football and play basketball. I’m part of the offensive line for the school team. Sometimes, I like to draw and sing at the same time. I just lock myself in my room and paint or draw pictures. Hours at a time. I usually sing songs by Beyoncé, or those songs that just get stuck in your head.

Is art something you see yourself doing as a career?

When I grow up I plan on being either a doctor or a lawyer. I’m really inspired by Ben Carson. Ben Carson is an African-American doctor who rose above what others said he could and couldn’t do. People were telling him that he couldn’t be a doctor because of his skin color, but he took it to the next level and became one of the best doctors.

I’m pretty excited for high school next year. I’ll be going to Cox. It’s a good school and my dad teaches there. He teaches science. I’m more into math, but he used to teach math as well. It’s great because if I ever need help with homework I can just ask my dad.

What do you enjoy when you aren’t at school?

I have a lot of sports that I do, but softball is my favorite. I’m a catcher on a rec team, but I’ll be doing a travel ball soon. I also plan to try out for the team when I get to Cox.

What would you like to do after finishing school? Do you have a dream job?

My dream job, well, right now it’s between three. I either want to be an anesthesiologist, but I know it’s hard, a veterinarian or an orthodontist. Ever since I was a little kid I wanted to be a doctor and watched medical shows on television. I don’t know what these three are interesting to me, but they are.

I started working in the division as a school bus driver in 2011. This is my second year as an office associate and I love it. I love it. I enjoy building relationships with the kids. Those relationships are what made me say, “This is where I need to be.”

What makes you look forward to coming into work every day?

Just seeing the kids. Seeing their faces smiling. I see a lot of students every day, not all of them like it, but I greet them with a smile, because it’s the small things that make a difference. It’s all about making a difference, whether it be out-and-about at Walmart when you see a student or parent or in the school.

I love what I do. It’s all about the kids. I planning on pursuing my education more in the future. I’ll be a teacher, counselor, student support specialist or Special Education teacher. I want to stay in the education field. I already have my bachelor’s degree in business and information technology, but I didn’t really want to do IT. Once I started driving the bus I realized, this is where I need to be.

I enjoy surfing a lot. Almost every week. My dad and my brothers taught me how to surf and during the summer we have huge surfing adventures. During the winter we still go a lot. I have a wet-suit so temperature doesn’t really matter.

My favorite part about surfing is how free you feel when you are on the water. And, it’s fun. It’s so fun. If you haven’t ever surfed you should try it. Watching surfing competitions are fun to watch too. I think they’re adding surfing to the Olympics in 2020.

I run for track and play on the soccer team, but surfing is the most fun. They should have a surfing team at school. I really want to be a professional surfer when I get older. All the traveling would be just so much fun. Plus, you would make so many friends.

When my cousins come over we do gymnastics and it’s a lot of fun. It’s fun, but we have to be careful because my dog is so small we might step on her. She’s pitch black and her name is Darla, she’s a Shih Tzu and a toy Poodle mixed up and she’s very adorable. I think we got her on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday. I don’t remember which. She’s really fast, but I’m faster.

I also have a pet fish named Fishywatson and another dog named Diggy. I don’t know how old Fishywatson or Darla are, but I do know how old Diggy is. He’s seven. I’m six. Diggy is old. His hair on his body is gray. I love playing with all my dogs and Fishywatson. #WeAreVBSchools

I’m a photographer. Photography was always one of my passions. But when comes to teaching, I love teaching watercolor. It’s so easy. It’s fluid to work with. It allows for mistakes. But it’s one of those mediums where it doesn’t have to be super perfect. Sometimes the surprise of watercolor really is fun, especially with the younger kids.

Initially I went to school for fashion design and when I got there, I was like “Eh, this is not really what I want.” So I went into art education and loved it and never looked back. Whenever I was teaching in the classroom, I was like “I am so happy, this is what I want to do, this is where I am meant to be.” Now, I’m training art teachers. It’s full circle.

The number one thing I’m not looking forward to about high school is waking up that early. I don’t know if I can do it. I’ll most likely be going to Ocean Lakes, but ATC has some graphic design and entrepreneurship classes I’m interested in. I went last year and got to see the stuff that they did. It was pretty cool. For one of the projects they had to create one poster that summed up all 50 states in one image. I liked seeing what they all came up with. #WeAreVBSchools

Math and science are my favorite subjects right now. I like science because of the explosions. Like, the explosion you get when you add Mentos to Coke and it erupts and makes a big explosion. It’s really cool.

Outside of school I’m really into football. I want to be an NFL player when I grow up. I’ll be a wide receiver or running back for the Miami Dolphins, for sure. Three is my lucky number so I’ll have to have that on my jersey. There’s no reason three is my lucky number, but it just is.

I’m really excited about Christmas this year. I’m excited because I was able to pick out everyone’s gift by myself. I only have my mom left, and that’s who I’m focused on right now. She’s tough to buy things for, but I know she will love it – whatever I give her. She always does.  I don’t remember what I gave her last year, so as long as I don’t give her the same thing I think it will be okay. I just have to remember what I got her soon.

I really like getting presents for others to open, and watching them open them. It’s excited to see their faces when they really like something you got them. So, this year should be fun.

Environmental Science is a really cool thing. I’m really interested in going into politics when I’m older, so learning about the environment really important considering all the changes that are happening.

I put other people first. It seems like I’m being foolish sometimes, but I really care about everyone else. My people matter most to me. I’ll do whatever I can to help people, that’s my leadership mentality. I think that I’m really passionate about leadership, about service leadership. Leadership isn’t just about leading, it’s about getting others to believe in what you’re doing.

I was playing soccer, and went for a tackle. I was playing field, even though I don’t usually play field. And someone just kicked me and it didn’t end well for me. It wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t like a cool save where I can be like “I’m just a really good goal keeper.” I was just trying something new, it didn’t work. I like being a goalie because I’m the last defensive line. Things that I do actually matter, take a direct toll on the game. I like feeling that bit of control, like I can help the team.