Lakeside graduate Emersen Slanga overcame tragedy, adversity

From homelessness to the death of her mother, Emersen Slanga has endured insecurity and loss that would rock most adults. Yet instead of letting those obstacles crush her, she’s risen to the top, found her voice, and is ready to fly.

“Any one of those things would be enough to derail a kid, but Emersen has flourished,” said teacher Caitlin Tumlinson. “When she came to us in her freshman year, she was so quiet, so shy, but she’s grown into an advocate for herself and for her friends, and I think that’s because of the challenges she’s faced.”

Finding a safe place to live was the first hurdle she had to overcome.

“My parents were evicted when the landlord sold the house with no warning,” Slanga said. “We lived in my dad’s boss’s shop for awhile.”

Then came a string of hotels.

“We had three cats and a dog and we had to sneak them in,” she recalled. “It’s funny now, but it wasn’t at the time.”

Both parents battled alcohol addiction, so she stayed with friends for awhile. Eventually, she filed a Child in Need of Services petition with the state, and the court ruled that she could live with her grandfather.

Her parents had moved to Arizona when she got word in 2018 that her mother had died. The sad news didn’t come as a complete surprise.

“She was really sick with liver failure. She was given four months to live and lived six years,” Slanga said. “It was super heartbreaking. When she was sober she was the greatest mom.”

The turmoil led to plunging grades during her sophomore year.

“I failed geometry and almost failed two other classes,” she said. “I found out the stress triggered ADHD.”

But with a stable home life with her grandfather, the investment of caring teachers, and a good group of friends, Slanga slowly found her way back to solid ground.

“I got all A’s and B’s this year and almost made the honor roll,” she said. “It felt really good.”

With improving grades came bigger opportunities. She’s always had an affinity for languages – especially Spanish, and the summer before her junior year, Slanga studied abroad in Spain for six weeks.

“She studied college-level classes and lived with a host family that didn’t speak English,” Tumlinson said. “She did really well.”

That’s not to say it was easy.

“I got lost every day! I had to talk to strangers on the street to find directions,” Slanga said. “It was all out of my comfort zone.”

To her amazement, she found herself thriving despite her apprehension. So much so that she plans to major in Spanish and French at WSU this fall.

Slanga said she applied to several colleges and was accepted by all of them, but WSU was her top choice.

“I’d like to pursue teaching or something abroad. The traveling bug bit me,” she said.

Tumlinson is confident that her student will continue to excel on whatever path she takes.

After all, she’s watched Slanga grow from a painfully shy, grieving student, to a fiercely loyal advocate, articulate communicator and world traveler.

“She’s going to be so successful because of her determination, her work ethic and all she’s managed to overcome,” said Tumlinson. “I truly believe that Emersen is an inspiration to all who know her.”