How long you've been competing in UIL: I've been competing in different events since 6th grade.

 What's the most challenging/nerve-wracking thing about your event: The time I get nervous is during that glimpse of time between reading the rules and beginning the test. You know the part, where the instructor is passing out the papers to everyone and the whole room gets tense, ready to begin, and the man passing them out seems to look at everyone and evaluate who he thinks will do the best. Then the paper is in front of me and all my worry gives way to a quiet determination to finish.

 First thing you'll do when you win: Stare at my teacher stupidly for a few moments working the information over in my mind before jumping in place and whooping triumphantly. Then I will look around and notice people staring and I would have to just smile at them all.

 Past honors in the event: In all honesty, I have never even tried this event before in my life. I went to Regional last year in Ready Writing and that was the first time I had ever advanced before. I did The same event this year, along side Editorial Writing and Headline Writing. I thought I would make it in Ready Writing again, but it turned up that I was a natural for headline. At Regional, I finished first in about 20 minutes and I had somewhere to go so I was in a hurry. I never, in my wildest dreams, would have thought that I would get 1st!

 Extracurricular activities/other UIL events: After school I go to work and I stay at work until 10PM every day except Wednesdays. On Wednesdays I teach art to a little girl in Kindergarten and then I go home to do chores, after chores I go to church and sing with the choir before we do our evening lesson. On weekends, I work longer shifts and go to church on Sunday mornings. I also competed/participated in Ready Writing, Editorial Writing, and One Act Play.

 College plans: I havn't set anything in stone though I am still keeping a hawk's eye on Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia. I plan to visit the campus this summer to get a more personal experience.

 Birthplace: Tyler, Texas

 One thing your parents, a sibling or even a best friend might not know about you: I want to learn how to dance ballet, ballroom, and play piano. I also love the feeling of acrylic paint on my skin, the smell of a welding shop, the look of that spot on a guy behind their jaw and under their ear at the top of their neck, the taste of chocolate icecream, the sight of a page completely full with words freshly written telling a story that no one else knows, and the sound of a song I've never heard before that I just know I'm going to like.