By Rachel Finely
Sentry Staff Photographer
When she’s not fantasizing about Prague’s architecture and rich history or the National Gallery of Art, Junior Emma Westerhof can be found eating Dutch food and dreaming of flying through the skies as a bird.
She struts through the halls in boho pants and with her head held high. Emma describes herself as being “calculated” due to her ability to overplan things and her strong opinions, but she wishes that she could be more spontaneous. When asked about the newspaper she says that she loves writing for the Opinion section of the paper.
“I love writing for Opinion because I am a very opinionated person, and I think it’s a good outlet to let your views out in a respectful way” said Westerhof.
When she has a spare moment, she loves to read.
“In the summer, I found myself reading a lot more than I expected I would naturally”.
Emma enjoys writing debate and Model United Nations speeches to perform against other schools. Her favorite subject is history. She enjoys looking at architecture in places like Prague. Emma thinks that architecture can really show a lot of history, and loves how it is timeless.
She describes her fashion sense as classic and eclectic. She likes wearing lots of different styles, preppy and boho being two of the many. Having lived in Michigan, Westerhof experienced quite the change in style when she moved to hot and muggy Arlington.
“I think I incorporate a lot of different things into a lot of different styles,” says Westerhof.
If she could go anywhere in the world, she would choose to venture to England to see Jane Austen’s house to pursue her interests in novels as well as history.
Emma Westerhof will either be found ruling the world or pursuing her intellectual interests in art, literature and architecture in the future.
By Emma Westerhof
Sentry Staff Reporter
She is hardworking, organized, and tenacious… and she’s coming down the hallway with her lustrous brunette curls flowing behind her. Textbooks thrown under one arm, senior Rachel Finley settles down in a desk and immediately throws herself into her work as a photographer for The Yorktown Sentry. Self-described as ‘stubborn’ and ‘obstinate’, Finley takes pride in her “bulldog-esque” tendency not to give up or let go of something until she achieves the desired results. Her diverse interests and love of learning and school mean every door will be open to her. However, do not let the serious “study look” on her face fool you, this girl is anything but robotic or singularly driven. Coupled with her pragmatic approach to life, Finley’s risk-taking personality suggests that her success is inevitable.
Wonderfully goofy and down-to-earth, Finley has many callings and (occasionally bizarre) special talents. Not only is she an excellent English student and writer, but she also reports having actual conversations with her beloved guinea pig Stormy by making a series of convincing squeaks and chirps. In the future, Finley hopes to travel the world and visit the Renaissance masterpieces in Florence, Italy. As an avid reader and fan of J.K Rowling, Finley loves everything and anything dealing with Harry Potter. In fact, her ideal date would include a casual dinner out and a cozy evening spent watching all seven Potter films together. Finley is excited to attend college next fall and major in a subject area that will prepare her for her dream job at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) or the Secret Service. This past summer Finley received a security clearance that will hopefully procure her an internship at a government agency. While a job in national security requires one to kick butt and bea tough cookie, Finley also expresses grace and poise in her interactions with others. When asked which Disney princess she most identifies with, she described her affinity for Beauty and the Beast’sBelle.
“I have always loved Belle. She speaks French, her yellow dress is gorgeous and we have the same hair. Plus, she loves to read and is one of the few literate princesses,” said Finley.
If federal agency work gets tiring for Finley, she could easily transfer to another high-powered job in Washington D.C. Although she has never considered running for President of the United States, she would be more than capable and already has a game plan mapped out.
“I would do everything in my power to tighten up the whole Vladimir Putin and Ukraine issue. If I were in a position of power I would enlist France and Germany’s help. After that I would focus on ISIS and Syria. We definitely should be doing more,” said Finley.
Her honest outlook on global issues and her desire to improve and protect society reveal how eager she is to make a difference in the world. There is absolutely no question about it— Finley is going far in life.
Photo by Libby Boda
