As setter and captain on the Inglemoor High volleyball team, Ellie Swanson leads the way with her athletic skills and encouraging words. The Viking senior is a leader off the court, as well, as associated student body (ASB) assistant coordinator.
It’s a double dose of school spirit that keeps Swanson going and appreciating the time she’s spent at the Kenmore school the last three years.
“I’ve been really fortunate because Inglemoor is full of amazing teachers and administrators, so it’s been a really amazing experience to be a part of this community,” said Swanson, who turned 18 on May 31 and will graduate on June 13 at the Comcast Arena in Everett.
Swanson sports a 3.961 grade-point average and will take those smarts to the University of San Diego in the fall to study elementary education.
Her ultimate goal is to be a second-grade teacher. (She also plans to study abroad in college, possibly traveling to Spain.)
“I love to help people, and I think that being a teacher is so rewarding in that you can see the change and the difference you can make,” she said, noting that she’s looking forward to sharing her knowledge and life experiences with the youngsters.
Tina MacRae — Inglemoor activity coordinator who passed away in 2011 — was a guiding light for Swanson, teaching her to be open minded, patient and friendly with others.
Swanson has been involved with ASB since eighth grade and also spends a good chunk of her time participating in Washington Association of Student Councils activities when she’s not making an impact at Inglemoor.
With ASB, one major issue they’ve tackled is bullying and trying to make all students feel welcome at school, she said. They administered a survey last year and have learned about the emotional impacts of students who are harassed at school.
“ASB has really shaped my life because of the leadership lessons that you learn. You learn how to be selfless and put others before yourself and really focus on making the school a better place,” said Swanson, who has also been involved with the Relay for Life Club. “You get this worldly perspective and you see a lot of different things. Knowing how to put yourself out there will definitely help me in college and for the rest of my life.”
In the classroom, she’s been taking International Baccalaureate (IB) courses since sophomore year in English and history and added math studies to the mix this year. Her favorite class is history because students analyze events, like the civil-rights movement of the 1960s, for instance, and are able to get a firm grasp on the events.
When it’s time for volleyball, Swanson is on board with equal verve as her classroom activities.
“Sports has been a huge outlet for me. Going to volleyball practice and being able to focus on the game and not worry about anything else, that’s a way that I’ve worked through stress,” she said.
With graduation on tap in a dozen days, Swanson said she feels bittersweet about leaving Inglemoor, but she’s excited for the future.
