LC senior has big smile, big heart

The only thing bigger than 18-year-old Linda Alonzo’s smile is her heart.

While most teenagers spend their weekends spending time with their friends, doing last-minute homework or working a part-time job, Alonzo seems to be in several places at once.

“I like to keep busy,” Alonzo said. Between her school-related activities and her volunteer work, Alonzo said she doesn’t have much time for a social life.

The Lake City High School senior has kept herself quite active since she was 15, she said. Alonzo is involved in numerous school activities and beneficial programs. Along with the newly formed LCHS dance team, the concert choir and the art club, Alonzo is active in the Natural Helpers program.

Natural Helpers is a yearlong program to help students who may not be comfortable going to a teacher or counselor with their problems. Each year, the student body is asked to nominate several of their fellow students who are approachable and with whom they would feel comfortable sharing their dilemmas.

According to several fellow classmates, Alonzo was an obvious choice.

“She’s a very caring girl that always considers others before herself,” LCHS senior Paul Peck said.

To this, Alonzo just made her ever-present grin wider and shrugged.

“I think that people thought of me because I just like to be helpful,” Alonzo said. “I try to put the needs of other people before my own.”

Alonzo also has spent much of her time volunteering in her high school’s cafeteria and as a teacher’s assistant in special education classes. Her desire to do this grew from the work she had done in the past with the Special Olympics program, where she was a ticket seller and a general laborer, she said.

“It’s been such a pleasure working with these kids,” Alonzo said. “They’ve taught me more than I can ever teach them.”

As if her numerous volunteer efforts weren’t enough, Alonzo also balances schoolwork and three part-time jobs. She works as a preparatory cook at LCHS, an assistant photographer for a family friend and for her family’s house-repair business. Alonzo said it’s sometimes difficult to maintain a social life while being so deeply involved, but the support from those around her has been “absolutely wonderful.”

“My family has been amazing throughout everything,” Alonzo said. “They have always been there for me and have told me to follow my dreams.”

Alonzo also attributes her successful balancing act to two of her school instructors: English teacher Amy Bellamy and science teacher Scott Jacobsen. Alonzo calls them her “school parents,” saying that they have been a constant source of joy and support for her.

“They have held my hand during high school, and they’ve supported me in everything that I do,” Alonzo said. “They were a big part of helping me decide my future career, too.”

Alonzo plans to pursue her dream of becoming a professional writer. She said that writing “just comes naturally” to her and that she would love to write anything that helps others or puts a smile on their face.

“I have a passion for words,” Alonzo said. “I would just love to share it with others.”

When she takes the final walk across the famous Lake City Den (otherwise known as the gymnasium) with her fellow graduating seniors, Alonzo said that she will be reminded of all of the good times that she has had during high school and that helping others throughout her time attending LCHS has really helped her as well.

“Before I started volunteering, I never really knew what to do with myself,” Alonzo said. “I’ll miss high school, but I’m excited for my future.”

Alonzo will be attending North Idaho College this fall and beyond that hopes to one day enroll in the Arts Institute of Seattle. Looking back, Alonzo said there isn’t much she would change about her time in high school and that the advice she would give her fellow graduates as well as all teenagers is to share their gifts with their community.

“I strongly recommend volunteering and putting yourself out there,” Alonzo said. “Helping others has changed my life and just opened up a new chapter for me that I hope never ends.”