Jessica Ritz
El Dorado High School
Tell us about yourself.
I’m a 17-year-old senior who was blessed to be elected Associated Student Body president last year, so I spend a lot of my time fulfilling my presidential duties. Outside of school, I like to think of myself as a loving friend, daughter, sister and aunt.
What accomplishment are you most proud of and why?
Running a marathon is by far my largest personal accomplishment. To a lot of people, running 26.2 miles sounds like an outrageous physical challenge, but to me it was so much more. Starting and finishing a marathon taught me that no matter the circumstances, as in life, you have to keep putting one foot in front of the other. In a sense, it was a metaphorical life lesson.
What are your school interests, involvements and hobbies?
As a senior, I would say that my first interest right now is graduating high school. There are too many wonderful things on this campus for me to have done them all, but I have had the privilege to be on the cross-country team, participate in Faith Out Loud (a local club on campus) and most significantly, be a member of Associated Student Body.
What are your plans after graduation?
I will proudly attend California State University, Monterey Bay, this fall, and major in liberal studies with an emphasis in elementary education. I plan to stay at Cal State Monterey Bay for a fifth year to attain my multi-subject teaching credential.
Who is your role model?
Choosing just one person is so difficult because I have been blessed with a huge number of phenomenal mentors throughout my life. Jamie (Mrs.) Trykar has had the most profound impact on my life in high school. She is such a light in what can sometimes be such a dark world. In several situations, she has reached out a hand and shown such an immense amount of grace. She is such a blessing.
Describe your career aspirations.
After attaining my teaching credential, my goal is to teach younger grades, preferably kindergarten.
If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?
Sitting on a warm beach in Hawaii sounds so wonderful—a place to rest, gather my thoughts and enjoy this world that God has given us.
