MARYSVILLE — Amy Garner, a junior enrolled in the SOAR program at Marysville Mountain View High School, has found her academic niche while working to help the homeless.
Question: When did you enroll in the SOAR (Secondary Options and Alternate Resources) program?
Answer: I started my sophomore year at SOAR. It’s an alternative learning program. We get credits at a faster pace. It’s easier to get on track faster.
Q: Where did you start high school?
A: I went to Marysville Pilchuck my freshman year.
Q: What happened? Why did you transfer?
A: I messed up my freshman year. Coming here, I was able to catch up on credits and get to where I needed to be before it was too late.
Q: Did you know anything about it beforehand?
A: My (older) sister came to SOAR. They were able to work with her. It’s more one on one. I saw that it benefitted her a lot.
Q: It must be nice to have found a program that lets you catch up.
A: I have seen people my age already dropping out. To me, it’s just so disappointing. (SOAR) just seems more flexible. It’s customized to each person.
Q: Tell me about how you started providing socks for the homeless.
A: I heard that about … a lot of cases when peoples feet were wet and cold their toes will rot, just from not having clean dry socks. So I started getting socks and donating them. It made me realize how much a little thing can mean to people. It’s something little I can provide. I’ll put two pair (of socks) in gallon freezer bags. I like to provide tooth brushes, gloves, Kleenex, a comb and throat lozenges…
Q: It sounds like you’ve done this for a while.
A: We started talking with a man (named Rick) with a cat in front of the Dollar Store. We got to know him over time. He said if I was serious about (helping) he would be willing to help me and he has.
Q: Have you personally given out any of the bags?
A: Yeah. I’d keep them in the back of my car. Some people are really grateful. You can tell they appreciate it. It is something to help them feel more normal. I’m just doing it on my own. It’s something I wanted to do that just makes me feel good.
Q: Do you know what you want to do after high school?
A: I definitely would like to go to college.
Q: Do you know what you would want to study?
A: I am thinking psychology, why we do the stuff we do.
Q: Do you see yourself moving away some day?
A: I like Marysville. I really like it a lot. It’s what I know.
Q: Do you have a favorite movie?
A: That’s hard to say. Growing up, I really liked the animated movie “Spirited Away.”
Q: How about a favorite book?
A: I’d have to say “The Fault in Our Stars.” I have read that book like four times.
Q: You share an important story about staying in school. Do you remember much about your freshman year?
A: I slowly started to get behind. And then I started getting depressed because I was behind. Being depressed, I wouldn’t want to get out of bed so I would just stay home. Now it feels good to go to school. I want to graduate on time.
Q: So you have a car. What do you drive?
A: A 2003 Jeep Liberty.
Q: Is there anything that would surprise people to learn about you?
A: I don’t think so. I’m pretty open about who I am.
Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446; stevick@heraldnet.com.
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