Hi there, I’m Jessica. My dad has been telling me I should write a column for the past six months or so, and this is me “getting around to it.” I suppose because this is my first column, I better tell you about myself. I’m seventeen years old, and I’ll be a senior at NRHEG High School next year. However, I’ll be taking full-time college courses next year, so I won’t actually be at the high school, but I’ll still be enrolled there. I have an older brother, Nathan, who is 19 and is only my half brother (he has a different dad than Eli and I), and a younger brother, Eli, who’s 13. My parents have been divorced since I was five, and I just switch back and forth between their houses every other week.

Some things I like include summer, hanging out with my friends, going to concerts, driving, swimming, county fairs and campfires. I hate bugs with a passion, and I also dislike lying, when people crack their knuckles, loud snoring, cheating, people who use others and the dark when I’m by myself.

I decided to start writing a column for a variety of different reasons. My dad thinks it’ll bring the paper more readers because we currently have no teen columnists. My friends think it’ll be a good way to get my thoughts and opinions out for the public to see. I’ve been praised by teachers and other adults alike for my writing skills (I still don’t think I’m that great, though), and writing a column gives me something to do and an easy way to make money this summer, seeing as I don’t have a job right now.

Most people in the area don’t really know me too well, especially because I used to be very shy growing up, and still can be at times with strangers and authority figures. Hopefully this column will help people get to know who I am a little better. Not all of them will be as boring as this one, though. The summer’s just started, and if it’s as eventful as last summer, you’ll be plenty entertained keeping up with latest things my friends and I will be getting into.

I would also just like to take this chance to say R.I.P. to Russell Witke. I wasn’t very close with him, but he was in my group at prom and he was a good kid. He was very dearly loved by so many people, and we’ll all miss him. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time.