Quiet CV senior an incredible listener
Chris Engle does not take “No” for an answer.
Quiet and soft-spoken, the Central Valley High senior was program director for his class as well as editor-in-chief for the yearbook.
“Chris has had some hardships in his life, but you would never know it,” CV counselor Leanne Donley said. “He’s just a cool, cool kid. He’s one of those kids who you don’t know are out there leading because he’s so humble and quiet. But all these amazing things get done because he put his hands on them.”
One such project was the senior prom.
“Chris took it upon himself to get things going and he made the whole thing come off,” Donley said. “He’s the one who found a place to hold the prom. Since the prom had a winter theme, he even went out on his own and shopped the after-Christmas sales to buy flocked trees and other things for decorations.”
Just getting to high school was difficult for Engle.
“When I was really young I had medical problems. I had ITP (immune thrombocytopenic purpura). In fact, I still have it and it’s something I will have for the rest of my life. But I was able to overcome the major part of it and it’s under control now.
“It’s a blood platelet disorder. It basically causes the white blood cells to do the opposite of what they’re supposed to do.”
Engle’s spleen was removed when he was 2 years old, which was a key to controlling the condition, but not before it had attacked his speech centers. He went through extensive speech and physical therapy until he reached sixth grade.
“Having experienced what I have, it definitely gives me a different perspective on life from most of my classmates,” he said. “It makes me work harder and not think that the world is working against me just because I have to work harder.”
Naturally shy and quiet, Engle’s words still come slowly. By choice, he prefers to let others speak first. However, when he does share what’s on his mind, it’s invariably worth listening to.
“Chris is an incredible listener,” Donley said. “He hears things most people miss.”
Engle also is an accomplished photographer and was responsible for a major portion of photos in this year’s annual – which debuted to positive reviews this week.
“I’m interested in studying photography,” he said. “But part of me also wants to do something in the medical field.
“I’m going to go to school next year at Spokane Falls Community College and then transfer to either the University of Washington, the University of Portland, Seattle Pacific or the Brooks Institute of Photography.”
Engle will have one last gift for next year’s CV Bears.
“I worked it out with my yearbook adviser,” he said. “For the kids next year who can’t afford to spend between $200 to over $1,000 dollars to have senior pictures taken, I will take their pictures for a reasonable cost.”