Jackson Parks
Editor-in-Chief
Senior Bella Ferrell has really done it all, but she doesn’t know it all just yet.
Of the many extracurriculars she’s dabbled in throughout high school, like Lumberjack Club, Feminist Coalition, Student Council or cheer her freshman year, Ferrell still hasn’t found her niche.
“I’ve treated high school as one big playground because I knew that it didn’t matter so much what we were doing, but that we were doing something. I think I tried so many things out in the last few years because I knew that it wasn’t going to be detrimental if I wasn’t good at them,” Ferrell said about her diverse catalog of high school extracurriculars.
Clark Elementary alum Ferrell joined Track her freshman year and has ran all throughout high school, as well as joining cross country her sophomore year.
“I joined track freshman year because I think I was looking for like something about grit and less about looks. I’ve been a dancer my whole life, so something less about looks, but more about the work and what you get out of it,” Ferrell said.
Ferrell played the lead role of Nurse Kelly in the drama department’s production of
“Harvey.” She describes it as the highlight of her high school career.
“It was so freeing to step out of my comfort zone just to find out I was really stepping into a new one,” Ferrell said.
Some students may look back in cringe at their freshman self, while Ferrell wishes she could take advice from herself.
“I honestly could use advice from my freshman self. She knew how to make the best of things,” Ferrell said.
Ferrell’s initial plans at the beginning was to obtain an appointment at the Naval Academy but will now attend Lake Forest College in the fall. She will major in English and cinema.
“I applied to the Naval Academy, and I ended up not getting it. I put in the work, and it was honest work. I tried, and it just wasn’t for me. I’m not sad about it,” Ferrell said.
Ferrell’s favorite memory of high school was playing Beatles Rock Band in senior Chloe Hagemann’s basement.
Ferrell served as the vice president of Student Council her junior year.
About her leadership role, “I wanted to try out a leadership role. It came at a really bad time because COVID hit, and we really couldn’t do anything in STUCO. I also think that being in a leadership position in a time with no direction was also really helpful because it gave me a reason. It gave me a reason to show up to meetings and show up to school and to stay connected,” Ferrell said.
“There’s been so much failure (in high school). It’s nice to know that I’m learning from it,” Ferrell said.
“My favorite part about Webster would be the somewhat of a small town vibe, although that can get extremely invasive at times. I really do appreciate knowing there is a place to call home when I’m gone this fall,” Ferrell shared.
Ferrell is grateful that her time in high school is ending, but she’s glad she took advantage of the “awkwardness” of high school.
“I’m letting myself be super awkward and letting myself do things now. I’ve probably embarrassed myself more times than I can physically remember. I’m happy I did that now. I’m glad I won’t feel nostalgic for high school very often in my life,” Ferrell explained.
“It doesn’t feel like the end of something, but more of the beginning,” Ferrell added.
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Jackson Parks – Editor-in-ChiefThis will be Jackson Parks’ first year on ECHO staff, but he made several contributions while taking journalism class his sophomore year. |
