Lakeside grad a natural leader
Some may think natural leaders are those with the most domineering personalities or those with the loudest voices but Lakeside senior class president Jamie Wachter is neither.
Teacher Matt Sullivan said, “She (Jamie) is among the most humble, soft-spoken and self-effacing young people with whom I have had contact.”
Yet despite that modest description, Wachter has served as junior class president, senior class president, and student representative to the school board. She’s also a member of the National Honor Society and a copy editor for the Vox, student newspaper.
Amazingly, Wachter said, “I don’t really think of myself as a natural leader, but I am a self-starter.” Then she laughed. “I enjoy being in charge, because I know things will get done.”
And she’s been busy getting things done. In her two-year tenure as student representative to the school board, Principal Mark St. Clair said, “She really changed that role.” He said when the school board asked for feedback about issues, Wachter created surveys and distributed them to the student body. She then compiled the results and presented them to the board.
As a result of her active role, the teen was invited to attend the national school board meeting in Washington, D.C., in January.
“It was very interesting,” she said. “I met Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray and got to see politics in action.”
She works hard at whatever she takes on. Erin Daniels, coordinator of high school journalism initiative at the Vox, said, “Jamie has a great attitude and sense of humor. She’s always willing to take on extra assignments.”
In her first year at the Vox, Wachter wrote for the opinion section, but the move to her current position as copy editor proved to be a good fit. “I’ve been told since I was in fourth grade, I was born with a red pen attached to my hand,” she said with a laugh. She admitted she feels compelled to check everything she reads for spelling or grammatical errors.
Matt Sullivan said, “She writes very well. She’s one of the most gifted English students I’ve had.” But her academic ability isn’t limited to English. Even though she doesn’t enjoy math, she still pushes herself to achieve good grades. She excels in calculus and tutors other students at Lakeside.
Such high academic standards are nonnegotiable for her, despite her humble demeanor. “The GPA thing is personal for me,” she said. “I don’t deal with grades lower than A. That’s just the way I am.”
Wachter has some advice for high school students. “Get involved. Don’t pass up an opportunity because you think it will make you look nerdy or uncool. It’s more fun to be involved.”
In the fall Wachter plans to attend community college in Eugene, Ore. After she establishes residency, she hopes to transfer to the University of Oregon and enter the journalism program.
It wouldn’t surprise any of her teachers if in a few short years they pick up a magazine and find Jamie Wachter’s name in the masthead – probably under “editor in chief.”
Matt Sullivan, for one, is expecting great things from Wachter, noting that she stands out among her peers. “There are good students. There are great students. And then there are students like Jamie.”