When a student enters high school, they are given the opportunity to take charge and explore interests that will shape their future. Students are able to explore new opportunities that will prepare them for the rest of their lives and help them create a sense of self and characteristics that they will carry with them when they move on from high school. Senior Lucy Jones started high school in 2022 and has had a meaningful school experience that has helped create her vision for the future.
“High school has helped me to gain my independence, build confidence and try new things. Whether it’s through my sport, my job, my clubs, or my classes, high school has taught me to push myself to work hard in everything I do. I have learned that when you put your best effort forward, good outcomes usually follow,” Jones said.
Many different opportunities present themselves to students over their four years at West and Jones took full advantage of the many different programs offered.
“I got the chance to travel to Italy with the school my sophomore year, seeing a different culture and meeting new people grew my passion for travel. This year I have had the chance to work in a school for one hour each day as a teacher’s assistant. I have also coached climbing, skiing and taught art classes throughout high school.These experiences made me certain that I want to work with children in my future,” Jones said.
Besides traveling and discovering her passion of working with children, Jones found her place working for the environment in middle school. She started making and selling jewelry and donating her profits to FLOW (For the Love of Water). When she entered high school, she continued her work for the environment and help initiate Environmental Club.
“I wanted to continue to work on something I was passionate about but bring it to my peers. The Environmental Club gave me that opportunity. It has been a great way to collaborate with students and make progress with something we all feel very strongly about,” Jones said.
Tennis has also always been a constant in Jones’ high school career and as a senior, she has become team captain of the tennis team.
“ I started tennis my freshman year just because I wanted to play a sport and thought tennis looked fun. I had no background or experience but my team was so welcoming and fun to be around […] Being team captain has taught me even more about leadership and how to be a leader,” Jones said.
Being involved in so many activities, has allowed for Jones to meet many new people and create friendships that will last beyond high school.
“[I’ve known her for] three years […] She’s a really good person to have around,” friend of Jones, senior Claire Stenberg said.
Jones’ leadership skills throughout her various high school years have made her a person that her sister, sophomore Sofi Jones, admires very much.
“My sister is probably one of the most ambitious people that I know. I think she worked her way up starting in freshman year to be where she is now on the tennis team. But she’s like very– she communicates with people really well. And she works really well with other people. (S)he has a very domineering personality, which I definitely think all of those make her a great leader,” S. Jones said.
After graduating from West, L. Jones has plans for the future that hope to use the skills she has gained from both Environmental Club and Tennis.
“I am waiting on my decision from a program called Tilting Futures. It is a program that sends students abroad to work on either humanitarian or environmental issues in different countries. I have the option to travel to Malaysia or South Africa. This is my top choice as of right now. Once finished with this program I plan to study linguistics or psychology at The University Of Michigan. Long term I hope to go to grad school to become a speech pathologist and work with the Peace Corp post-grad,” L. Jones said.
L. Jones’ influence on West has left a lasting mark with her work in Environmental Club and S. Jones hopes to continue operating the club even once her sister is gone.
“She turned into someone who can lead people really well, and she goes after every single dream she’s ever had. I mean she’s most, she’s a lot to live up to. Yeah, she’s done really well for herself, especially in high school,” S. Jones said.
Forging a path that reflects individual interests can be a journey, but L. Jones was able to turn the things she is passionate about into a legacy and a vision for the future.
“I am very introverted and leading never came easy to me, but the more you work as a leader, the easier it becomes. My other piece of advice is to lead from behind, empowering your team is best done when they are in control of their goals and I have found that everyone has an idea worth hearing,” L. Jones said.
