SANDY — When Jessica Blake thinks about her future, she imagines herself copy-editing a major magazine, covering the news, or involved in important science projects. No matter what she ends up doing, Jessica will probably be writing and talking about it in two languages. Fluent in Spanish, Jessica has a grade point average that hovers between 3.8 and 4.0, she has lettered in academics, and earned a Utah State Board of Education Certificate for Outstanding Performance on the Iowa Tests, for which she placed in the top 10 percent nationally in reading and science. Jessica credits her parents, Royce and Liza Blake, for being her advocates and for encouraging her to do her best and enjoy herself at the same time. "I just finished competing at the Brigham Young University Foreign Language Fair," she told the Intermountain Catholic May 12. "I enjoyed the competition and earned superiors in grammar, reading, and writing." As assistant editor of the Brighton Barb, Jessica is accustomed to writing up to four stories per edition, and is looking forward to getting a writing position as part of her senior year work-release program. The Blakes are members of Blessed Sacrament Parish. Liza Blake said the family has moved around a lot, and Jessica has developed a love for helping others. "I think of all the classes I take, I love journalism the best," Jessica said. "I love writing stories and talking to people, all of whom have stories of their own." Also gifted in mathematics, Jessica works hard at striking a good balance between her school work, her extracurricular activities, and her part-time job preparing mailings at home. She is a member of the National Honor Society and the Spanish Club, and she tutors middle school students in Mathematics and English. "My teachers and administrators at school are very helpful," she said. "They steer me toward the classes that will help me professionally. I think I’m a strong feature writer, and I enjoy doing research and finding the facts. Most recently, I’ve been working at finding my own voice in writing." Jessica said she has been heavily influenced by her Spanish teacher, Mr. Wilding, who makes time for each of his students, and balances the academics with leisure. "I think he’s a good role model for all of us. He doesn’t just teach the language, he teaches the culture and the foods, too. He’s the kind of well rounded person I would like to be." This summer, Jessica will spend two weeks visiting her grandparents in Oregon before beginning a journalism internship. "As I look down the road, I see myself going through college and getting a degree, then working as a journalist or a copy editor. I may be living in a different state, but I’ll be working and balancing everything I do."
Stay Connected With Us