There are a variety of courses Cherokee High School offers students to better shape their lives in positive ways. However, it is the student who reciprocates that inspiration by going and choosing to make an impact. Many of these students do not have the chance to step into the spotlight, but I interviewed one of them and allowed her to take center stage.
Meet sophomore Jillian Franklin, a kindhearted, gracious, and assiduous student at CHS, whose diligence is something to admire and will certainly take her far in her career.
1. What are your hobbies outside of school?
Jillian answers that she loves to read and sing during her time away from working in the classroom. She contributes her time every Tuesday after school to the Atlanta Girls Choir located in Alpharetta, Ga. She has been committed to the choir for 5 years now and wants to pursue singing throughout high school. As for reading, Jillian loves diving into an enjoyable book when there is not too much on her agenda for the day.
2. Do you have any siblings?
Jillian does not have any siblings; however, she does own a dog named Rocky. Her beloved Yorkshire Terrier has been a part of her family since she was a little girl. She claims she would rather have a dog than a sibling any day, and as a sister myself, I would argue that owning a dog is certainly less problematic than dealing with siblings. Unless, of course, your dog pees all over the floor of your house and must wear diapers, like Jillian’s.
3. What is your favorite home-cooked meal?
A good cookout is the ideal meal for Jillian. She was excited to answer this question because she could highlight how her dad makes the best burgers on the grill. Her love for a classic American cuisine mixed with her dad’s excellent grilling skills makes for the perfect home-cooked dish.
4. If you could have any superpower, what would you choose?
“If I could have any superpower, I would want the ability to heal people. I just don’t want people to have that hurt, you know? Seeing the suffering people go through when they are sick or injured is heartbreaking.”
Jillian’s answer really expresses the type of person she is. She is a selfless and warmhearted individual, whose goal is to heal others, even when she is not hurt.
5. Where do you dream of traveling to?
Jillian dreams of revisiting Europe someday. She traveled to Germany, Switzerland, and Austria-Hungary with her family a couple of years ago and found the scenery astonishing. She said she could not choose just one country in Europe to answer this question because she would love to travel to multiple countries. There is so much more she wants to explore!
6. What do you want to be when you grow up?
Jillian wants to pursue a career in journalism when she is older. She loves to read, as mentioned before, as well as writing. Writing creatively can open so many doors for her, and she hopes to publish her own book someday. She likes anything fiction, so the possibilities for what she can accomplish in her writing are endless.
7. What is the best outfit you have ever worn?
“The best outfit I have ever worn, or I guess my favorite, is my homecoming dress. I felt pretty in it and had a memorable night. I would say the memories made it even more special.”
Homecoming is an exciting time, and finding the perfect dress makes it even more exhilarating! When the color you have been searching for to make your skin tone pop and your confidence escalate finally meets your eyes, it is magical. That intense feeling is what Jillian experienced while shopping for her dress, and she absolutely rocked it.
8. What are 5 words your family would use to describe you?
The five words Jillian’s family would use to describe her are energetic, expressive, compassionate, friendly, and sometimes cluttered. Jillian’s life contains moments of chaos, but she perseveres through those stages and will still put others’ needs before her own. She lets out a lot of her stress and energy by being enthusiastic and looking for positive things in every situation.
Jillian’s answers during our interview were thorough and reflected off her character well. I felt a strong connection to her perspectives in each response, which made the interview flowy and consistent. Her patience while I asked her tough questions was laudable. I loved getting to know her throughout this process and hope that others will also benefit from her valuable insights.
