Sara-Kate Pirnik of Granite Bay is a Style Magazine 20+ Under 20
May 20, 2015 11:16AM ● By StylePhoto by Dante Fontana © Style Media Group
Sara-Kate Pirnik, 16
Granite Bay
Sara-Kate Pirnik is responsible for leading over 100 young people in various activities with A Touch of Understanding’s (ATOU) Youth F.O.R.C.E. (Friends Offering Respect Creating Empowerment).
According to the 16-year-old, “ATOU provides disability-awareness programs designed to educate a new generation to understand the challenges associated with disabilities and to accept and respect all individuals. It’s comprised of people with and without disabilities working together as a team.”
She has risen to president of the club and also manages two high schools’ clubs on different campuses. What’s more, Pirnik volunteers with Special Olympics. She says because of her Aunt Sara who deals with mental disabilities, she always knew she wanted to work with those less understood and accepted.
When she’s not in any of her leadership roles, Pirnik enjoys hanging out with her friends, shopping, playing miniature golf and going to the movies. She admits, “Pretty much everything we do involves eating as well.”
A piece of advice she claims has helped her is to not avoid things she fears. With that in mind, she auditioned for her school’s show choir, a glee club of sorts, and she now enjoys performing—something she thought she could never do.
When asked what advice she would give to the under-20 community, she says, “Don’t be afraid to try new things—especially the ones that may make you uncomfortable at first!”
—Rachel Meeker
FAVORITES
Escape: Exploring old towns, like Nevada City
Guilty pleasure: Taco Bell
Meal in town: See above
Local landmark: Rainbow Bridge in Folsom
Movie: Bride Wars
Musician/band: Ed Sheeran, 5 Seconds of Summer
Saying: “Be curious, not judgmental”—Walt Whitman
This month, in Style’s annual compilation of high-achieving high school seniors, we give you each school’s selections for local teens setting the pace—whether in academics, athletics, philanthropy, or all of the above. Read on and get inspired by the words and achievements of these 2015 super grads.