Maf
10
College alternatives viable option for some seniors
a
Nico V arela & M ark C hipperfield
Staff Reporters
As seniors advance to
the next stage in their lives,
they will be headed in
different directions. Some
will go to a private college,
and even more will attend
a state college. However,
some will choose an
alternate path.
Samantha Hanlin is one
senior who is choosing to
do something different
immediately following
high school. She will attend
Capernwray Bible School
outside of London, England
for six months. Then she
will go to Austria for
three months to partake in
community service.
"This seems like a
productive and active way
to steady myself as a person
spiritually as well as see
parts of the world before I
buckle down for a four year
college," Hanlin said.
Hanlin does plan to go to
college a year from now, yet
isn't sure where she will end
up after that.
"I’m still pretty cloudy
on where I'll attend college
in 2010, let alone what I'll
pursue as a career. But
ideology, theology and
humanities fit in pretty well
with the outreach program
as well as with my current
interests," Hanlin said.
Another senior, Kate
Griffith will be in Berlin,
Germany as an AuPair, after
she graduates. An AuPair
is similar to a nanny. She
will be taking Portland
Community College classes
online during her 12
months overseas.
"Afterward I will
probably go to Portland
State University or
University of Manoa,"
Griffith said, "I have no
idea what I want to do
later for a career. I might
want to do something with
speaking German, so this
is a perfect opportunity for
me to improve my foreign
language."
Having a year to create
a stable
foundation
to grow on
is one of Hanlin's
goals for the
upcoming year.
Life experience is
Griffith's objective.
However, these
aren't the aims
for everyone who
decides to initially
bypass college. For some
it's the cost, but others have
a career path in mind which
does not require college.
Benjamin Stoneking
wishes to pursue a career
which does not depend on
a college education. Though
he will be taking classes
part time at Clackamas
Community College,
Stoneking plans to focus on
his future career.
"I've been helping
my dad with fixing up
houses for as long as I can
remember. W hen school
is over I'll be able to work
a lot more and eventually
take over the family
business," Stoneking said.
His dad, uncle and
grandpa are in the housing
business, in addition
to general contracting
work. They buy, fix up
and rent houses. After he
graduates and has more
free time, Stoneking
is looking to become
more involved in this
business.
"I don't need to
go to college for
what I want
to do. I
went
the state competition she
was accompanied by three
guitarists. Judges listened
in a separate room so
nothing would impair their
judging and they could
focus on the sound of the
musicians playing. She
was judged on the rhythm,
time, arrangement of the
tune, appropriateness of
harmony, whether each
player complements each
other and clarity of tone.
Gholi enjoys the music
she is able to make on the
fiddle. She describes her
style as Texas style old time
fiddling.
"She is able to play
the old time style with a
classical sounds which
sets her apart from other
fiddlers," Webster said.
Gholi started with violin
lessons at Willamette
Primary School. According
to Gholi, one of her teachers
came to her elementary
school to play for her class
and ever since then she has
been in love with it. She
later enrolled in the school's
strings program. Gholi
visits the primary schools
and plays demonstrations
to spark interest there.
When she received
her first fiddle from her
parents she was ecstatic.
She participated
in orchestra
at Rosemont
Ridge Middle
School and is
currently
the only
fiddler
in the
orchestra.
Practices are held every
day in her room but for
better acoustics Gholi also
practices in the bathroom
at her house. Along with
continuous practice, Gholi
also takes private lessons
for an hour a week. She has
been taking lessons now for
four years.
Although the constant
practicing can be strenuous,
it has paid off at the
countless competitions
in which Gholi has
participated. She competes
in three or four a year
depending on her
schedule.
"I enjoy meeting
new people
at the
to the college of hard
knocks," Stoneking said.
The norm is for seniors
to go directly to college
after high school. The
reality is that this option
isn't for everyone.
B en jam in S to n ek in g ,
senior, hammers while
w orking for his dad's
co n stru ctio n com pany.
Stoneking is one of several
seniors who is taking an
alternate path rather than
going im m ediately into
college after graduation,
r
Gholi fiddles her way to national competitions
m
A shley S heron _____________
Staff Reporter
Tabitha Gholi,
sophomore, will be
competing in the National
Old Time Fiddlers' Contest
and Festival in Weiser,
Idaho in June after winning
the Oregon State Junior
Fiddle Championship
which includes year long
recognition in the National
Fiddlers' Hall of Fame in
Tulsa, Okla.
"I have been wanting to
see her in a competition
for years and I was glad to
make it to a competition
she won," Andrew Webster,
West Linn High School
guitar teacher, said.
Gholi has been a member
of the Oregon Old Time
Fiddlers' Association since
she was in fifth grade. At
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Tabitha Gholi, sophomore, plays her fiddle behind the school on a
sunny day. After winning the State title in March, Gholi qualified
to compete at the National Old Time Fiddlers' Competition which
will be held in June.
Photo by Patrick D'Arcy
■■P*
competitions and playing
music with other friends,"
Gholi said.
At Nationals, Gholi
hopes to advance to the
second round by practicing
extensively and having fun.
m
At next year's
competitions Gholi's goals
are to make it to the top
five in each competition.
So far, Gholi's biggest
accomplishment has been
winning State. Her next
competition after Nationals
will be in August.
Starting at a young
age, Gholi has grown and
matured while putting her
own touch to playing the
fiddle. When competing,
many people dress in a
costume, but Gholi dresses
in more comfortable attire.
This refreshes her so that
she is able to be herself and
is confident when she plays,
according to Webster.
"My goal for fiddling is to
just keep pushing myself to
get better and better," Gholi
said.
Even after countless
hours of practice and
determination that has paid
off and continues to pay off
in competitions, Gholi plans
to continue playing the
fiddle forever.
"I continue to play the
fiddle because I'd feel
empty without it and a part
of me would be missing,"
Gholi said.
^
*