Blog by: Margarita Azaria
Student Spotlight is a new blog by Mararita Araiza featuring an individual student and what makes them a great part of Oak Park. Have suggestions for another student who deserves the spotlight? Leave a comment below.
Imagine not knowing if you would survive your next four years of high school career. Imagine not being able to experience everything high school comes with. All the activities, clubs, sports and all the new people you could meet. What a better way to start your freshman year by making a bucket list of everything you want to do?
“One of them on the list was not to die before I graduate. It was to make sure I got everything I wanted to do done because of my health problems at the time,” said senior Amber Hemmie.
Trying out and making the Junior Varsity volleyball team her freshman year was one of the first things Hemmie was able to cross off. Playing on the court with her older sister, alumni Renee Hemming, was “very memorable,” Hemmie said.
“I wrote down everything I wanted to do. I didn’t want to miss out on any activities. I didn’t want to regret anything,” Hemmie said.
Hemming has been in Art Club, AFS club, Key Club, student council, Log, Cambia, the Axe, orchestra, band, vocal music, theater, volleyball, cheerleading, the football team and so many more. Not only has she been in clubs, but Hemmie has even made one, which was in her bucket list as well, “Start a club.” She began Veggie Club, which meets every second Monday.
“Hardest thing was to get my name on the football roster,” Hemmie said. She had never played soccer and had to really practice doing field goals since there was a lot of competition, but Hemming was able to accomplish doing it by getting a lot of help from friends and family.
Hemmie doesn’t only do sports and clubs, but she was also part of the production “Beauty and the Beast.” She was also in a one act last year.
“I have been very blessed in getting to do a lot of different things. I’ve found them all to be very enjoyable, everything has been a lot of fun, and every group has been very welcoming. I love Oak Park and Oak Park’s people,” Hemmie said.
Hemmie said that making Acapella choir was the most surprising and exciting have been enjoyable parts of her Bucket List.
“I know now that I have lived my high school career to the fullest having lots of unique opportunities that I will always remember and cherish,” Hemmie said.
It is an honor to have someone at Oak Park who is so determined and motivated in experiencing her life to her fullest. She is someone to look up to. Someone who you will see someday be someone in the world, someone successful with all her motivation.
A few things on The High School Bucket List:
- Participate in all three journalism staffs
- Participate in orchestra, band and vocal music
- Participate in five clubs at once
- Participate in Key club, Students Against Destructive Decisions, AFS, student council, Science Olympiad
- Master a backhand spring
- Be in a theater production
- Volunteer for debate
- Start a club
- Be a class officer
- Hold a student council office
- Preform with Blue on the Move
- Go into every room at Oak Park
- Make the cheerleading team
- Be a triple athlete
- Write name on the stair case by the theater
- Be a Relay For Life
- Participate in Art Club