News flash: Valtierra-Bush has the write stuff

When it came time to pick a college, Inglemoor High’s Samantha Valtierra-Bush had a few choices. Nine in fact.

Based on her SAT scores, which were high enough to make her a National Merit Scholarship Finalist, nine is the number of schools that offered her all-expenses-paid journeys through higher education.

Ultimately named a National Hispanic Recognition Scholar, luckily for her, one of the schools that offered her a scholarship was one she already had in mind: the Barrett Honors College at Arizona State University, where the current co-editor in chief of Inglemoor’s Nordic News will study journalism.

By the way, Valtierra-Bush has been paying attention. She knows many news outlets across the country are struggling to stay afloat, especially those of the print variety. But seemingly one who goes into things with both eyes open, she added she has no doubts about what she wants to do.

“It’s a passion,” she said of journalism. “Things don’t work the right way without journalism.”

Valtierra-Bush added she originally thought about going into TV, but now intends to study digital media, concentrating on video, the Internet and newer news sources such as Twitter. Valtierra-Bush already has signed up for classes and took on an ambitious load of six courses.

“They told me to take four,” she said, shrugging. But again, Valtierra-Bush seems to know what she might be getting herself into.

“I’m just one of those people who steps up to the plate,” she said. “It (college) is an opportunity and I’m going to take advantage of it.”

Valtierra-Bush said she only started writing for the Inglemoor paper last year, but quickly decided she wanted to do more. Besides becoming editor, she was awarded superior standing for an editorial she wrote at a Washington State Education Association seminar.

The contest doesn’t give first-, second- or third-place awards, but instead holds writing up to a certain standard, meaning Valtierra-Bush took top honors.

In addition to helping run the Nordic News, Valtierra-Bush has been involved with the school’s student government for three years, serving as secretary, vice president and, this year, president of the Associated Student Body (ASB).

While the ASB is involved in planning various student events and Valtierra-Bush has had a hand in those, regarding student government, her main focus has been in a different direction.

“I think what’s more important and a bigger part of what I do is the personal relationships with the staff and the students,” she said.

Valtierra-Bush added she might not be close friends with every student in the school, but she enjoys just walking up to students and just saying “hello,” or paying them some kind of compliment.

“I feel I can go up to any student and say, ‘Hey,’” she added. “It changes their day and makes me feel good.”

Valtierra-Bush also talked about being involved with various district-wide rule or discipline committees, adding she has tried to look at any issues that come up from both the viewpoint of a student and an adult.

“I’ve kind of been asked to look at both sides,” she said.

Having just turned 18, Valtierra-Bush nevertheless stated she is looking forward to the coming summer, “my last childhood summer,” as she put it.

“I’m kind of dreading graduation,” Valtierra-Bush added. “I know everyone … It’s going to be sad. But there’s no doubt that Inglemoor has prepared me for what’s ahead.

“Not that I know what’s ahead.”

She will graduate at 7 p.m. this Thursday at the University of Washington.