“My life is a blank page, and I am about to write my own chapter,” La Porte High School senior Kaitlin Edquist stated.
Throughout her 18 years of life, she has followed her mentors’ footprints, keeping a close eye on their tracks, becoming inspired with each step they took.
As the youngest of seven children, she has always looked up to her five brothers and one sister.
“My sister inspires me a lot – all of my siblings do. They’re all very passionate and successful in life. They push me because they’ve been through what I am going through. Deep down, I am so grateful for them because they’ve helped me grow as a person. My sister is one of the most caring, most creative and most positive people I’ve ever met. She is a great leader and inspires me to be one, too,” Edquist said.
In between all of her other mentors she holds close to her heart lays a remarkable role model and friend: LPHS English teacher, Erin Parker.
“She is one of the most inspirational people I have ever met in my life. [Although there is an age gap], she will be a friend of mine even after high school. She makes me want to be a better person every day,” Edquist said.
Edquist always strives for success, and she achieves that through her hard work and involvement in her church, school and jobs.
At her church, she aids the eighth grade confirmation class, serves as an altar serve, participates in youth group and also makes the church’s ministry schedule.
Beyond her involvement in her church is an abundance of additional responsibilities at school.
Edquist is the Vice President of Girl Reserves and a yearbook editor. What’s more, she is also a member of Finding Yourself in School (FYI) Club, Spanish Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), Postponing Sexual Involvement (PSI), Future Problem Solvers and National Honor Society (NHS).
She has been kicking a ball ever since she could walk, and was one of this year’s girls’ soccer team captains.
One of her biggest accomplishments in her life is being able to maintain a 4.0 GPA throughout her high school career.
“I work really hard for it. I know what’s been expected of me by parents and teachers, but I’ve also set personal goals for myself. Going into my freshman year, I knew I could do it, and although it’s taken a lot of work, it has paid off,” Edquist said.
For the past two summers, Edquist has been dedicated to Camp Lawrence, a summer camp in Valpo that she has grown a strong love for. In July of 2014, she was hired at Ideas in Motion Media and is an active Coverage Team Member while also serving as the #1NWIStudent for LaPorte High School.
As her senior year comes to a close, Edquist reminisces on all of her high school memories that have led up to this point.
“My senior year has been awesome. The work load has been hard and has made my life crazy and sometimes miserable, but there have also been nights that have been so great. I was a homecoming candidate, our football team went to State and I was the captain of my soccer team – a dream that has been mine since freshman year. And in a way, everything has gone crazy this year, but it has also gone exactly how I pictured it,” Edquist said.
She will write the next chapter of her life in Bloomington, IN, where she will be a Hoosier at Indiana University.
Edquist is currently unsure of what her major will be because she cannot commit herself to one field of study.
“I want to try everything. There are so many things out there in life that I want to try, and I can’t choose just one thing right now. I am planning on looking into journalism or English because this job has put that love into my brain and my heart,” Edquist said.
She plans on entering IU with an exploratory major and in due time, she will find her career path. Although not everything is crystal clear, Edquist will take the avenues necessary to find what she will do for the rest of her life.
“I just crave adventure. I don’t seem like an adventurous person, but deep inside, that is who I want to be. I want to go out and meet new people. I love getting fresh starts and I look forward to seeing a new face each day. The fact that I don’t know where my life is going is terrifying, but I am ready to find out,” Edquist stated.
With every article she has written, every camp song she has led and every photo for yearbook she has taken, she has touched lives, leaving her own footprints in La Porte’s sand.