HONORARY MENTIONS
ZOE THOMPSON
11th grade, North Tahoe High School
I hear it from my friends (myself included) all the time: “Imagine how amazing it would have been to have grown up in a big city. There would have been so many more opportunities for us.” In many aspects, this is true. Yet in our small town, I find no lack of opportunities. Our local teachers, small-business owners and tireless community members work very hard to produce an environment for students that allows us to partake in many classes, programs and sports that will hopefully give us some insight into our future jobs and allow us to explore our personal interests. Ballet and music have always been a really big part of my life, and our local programs are what allow me to excel in those subjects and become who I am.
I have been dancing since a very young age with Tahoe Dance School and, more recently, Tahoe Youth Ballet. Over the years I became less interested in soccer and skiing and softball — ballet was the only constant. About three years ago, I became much more serious about ballet with the help of Christin Hanna, who grew up in Tahoe and moved to New York City to pursue professional ballet. She is an amazing example of someone coming from a small town who can accomplish big things, and she has made even more of an impact by coming home to teach dancers of all ages and run a local ballet company. Before working with Christin, I felt average as a dancer. She has truly helped transform my confidence and the way I take on challenges. I work closely with other dancers in the company, choreographing with them and creating new pieces with a collection of little ideas we have all contributed. I have grown to appreciate my mistakes and my small feats in class. Improvement is inevitable if you really want it, and I have shown myself that I can do a lot more than I ever thought.
Since middle school, I have been a part of every music program available, and I have played on a variety of instruments including flute, clarinet, and tenor saxophone. I am currently involved in jazz band, wind ensemble, and AP music theory, all taught by Dean Nordby, another Tahoe local, who has been teaching for more than 20 years at NTHS. Mr. Nordby has encouraged me from freshman year to participate in every event and opportunity offered to me, ranging from various honor bands to solo competitions and even to learning a brand new instrument in sophomore year. He is not only a great teacher, but he is also a friend to all of his students, and establishing that kind of relationship with people is something I strive to do with everyone I work with and know. Through all of my music experiences, I have gained the confidence to be on stage alone and feel comfortable in front of any audience. I have learned from the goodwill tours our jazz band takes that everyone – senior citizens to elementary students — deserves to hear music and smile for a little while. Every year I watch the new sixth graders play their simple songs at their first concert, and at that same concert, the high school wind ensemble will play unimaginably challenging pieces. So many people from our community are involved with the music program, and have watched countless students grow and improve. Music is something I can do forever, and I will only get better.
By working at both ballet and music daily, I remain an active member of our community, inspiring younger students to be involved with the arts programs we offer. My life and future have been shaped by everything I do, and whether that is going to a big city to pursue an artistic dream or becoming an educator to share my love for both ballet and music, I know that this town has offered me more than I could ever ask for. I am moved every day by my achievements as well as of those around me in the community, small only in size and never in spirit.
