Kate Newsted is a academically and musically-talented senior at the Jim Thorpe Area High school. Kate is a member of many of the clubs offered at Jim Thorpe, some being National Honors Society, History Club, Musical Theater and Student Council.
Kate is an active member of Jim Thorpe’s Theater Program, starring in their last musical, The Adams Family; in this musical Kate played Alice. Kate is also a member of Jim Thorpe’s Chorus, and the class of 2025 treasurer.
Which school tradition are you most proud of?
My favorite school tradition is senior sunrise, because I had a lot of fun at it. I think it’s something to really look forward to.
Which event did you most look forward to this year/ are most looking forward to?
I’m looking forward to the volleyball tournament this year, because we always do it before Christmas break.
It’s usually the day before we leave, and it’s always fun. It always makes the environment a lot less stressful, so I’m really looking forward to it.
Favorite school memory?
My favorite school memory is the district chorus last year, when there were around 200 kids from other schools singing their hearts out.
Favorite teacher?
I guess my favorite teacher would be Dr. Christ because I spend the most time in his classroom. I also really liked Mr. Ward and his class during my sophomore year.
Plans for after high school?
I hope to go to college, and at the moment I’m most likely going for elementary education.
Which subject do you think prepares you most for life after high school? Why?
I would say literature, because you have to read for the rest of your life so It’s always a good skill to have.
Favorite subject?
Probably also literature because I like how you can have multiple approaches to a correct answer.
What about high school challenged you the most?
Probably the workload of junior year. Junior year was awful, and I’d say that to anyone who asks me.
The combination of all of my hard classes last year was really stressful and not fun.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
I’ll be 27, and hopefully out of college. Hopefully I also have a steady job and I have my own apartment, that's the goal.
What motivates you?
Probably my need to try everything once. I just want to be able to do everything once, and if I don’t do it I feel like I’m not doing enough.
Advice for freshman/other high school students?
It’s not that deep. Nothing is that deep if you really think about it. Try your best, work your hardest, but at the end of the day it’s just highschool.
How have your hobbies/ extra curricular activities influenced your future plans?
They’ve made me consider different career paths, because I’m very involved in music.
I couldn’t see myself doing something without music in the future so I’m sure it’ll influence my life somewhere down the line, I’m just not sure where.
What is your favorite theater moment in school?
In the Addams family, I had to sing a song that was very ...funny and I needed to stand on a table in front of everyone, and it made it in the yearbook! I think that's a very funny moment.
What will you miss most about high school?
I’ll miss the people, just because I’ve known them all for so long and because when you go off to college it’s full of people you don’t know and it’s a little nerve racking.
And I’ve known everyone since like third grade, and I’ll miss knowing that we’ve all shared the same experiences and moving forward we won’t necessarily have that.
What are you most proud of accomplishing in high school?
I’m most proud of building the music program. Dr Christ built it up a lot but we’ve been there since day 1 to help him do it.
It’s become something that the underclassmen will be able to carry and succeed with in the future and I think that’s pretty cool.
What are you most looking forward to after graduation?
Probably being able to do things on my own time, I feel like high-school sometimes is too structured so I’m looking forward to being able to do things when I want to.
What are your hobbies?
I do choir, theater, I'm in cross country, and I like to read a lot. Those are probably the big ones.
Advice for juniors about senior year?
Junior year is the worst. Senior year is better. Get through it the best you can and I promise there’s like a rainbow at the end of it all, you’ll be fine.
How have you handled being Involved in everything?
Not well all the time, I just try and do my best. That’s a hard question because I don’t always handle it well. You just do what you can, and if you can’t do it all, just fake it till you make it.
-Sadie Strack and Ava Schafer, Writers
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