Some people display their achievements like trophies, loudly announcing how hard they work. Others, like Junior Selah Wells, humbly remain behind the curtain.
Wells takes interest in several activities year round, participating in the school’s cross country, ski and tennis teams. She plays the clarinet and saxophone, joined marching band, and has a summer job. But one of these activities tops the list for her.
“Skiing is probably my favorite sport,” Wells said. “Winter is my favorite season and skiing is just super fun.”
Outside of school, Wells tries her hand at art. After taking art lessons for a month and completing the basic arts course requirements, it developed into a hobby of hers. She considers a career in the arts a possibility in the future as well.
“I like experimenting with different art techniques,” Wells said. “[I’ve done] drawings, embroidery, paint. I drew Leonardo DiCaprio and I was trying to experiment with colors and shading.”
Others around her have noticed her imaginative streak.
“She’s very creative and ambitious,” sophomore and fellow cross country runner Ava Niedzielski said. “We want to design shirts for the [cross country] team and she’s already got a plan for it. She actually put the plan in action.”
Though running cross country doesn’t make Wells jump with joy, she admitted to having a soft spot for the people on the team.
“I’m not a very talkative person when I first meet someone, but she talked to me first when we were in Fling together,” Senior Lilly Starr said. “In cross country, she’ll run with people who aren’t as talkative.”
Niedzielski noted that Wells approached her first as well, and admires her motivation.
“I didn’t know anyone on the cross country team, and she was very friendly to me,” Niedzielski said. “She always encourages [us] to try [our] best, even when we don’t want to.”
Something about Wells appeals to teachers as well. Her past Geometry teacher, Sarah Snyder, remembers her smile and work ethic fondly (as well as her curly hair).
“I know she can impact people by just smiling,” Snyder said. “I hope she continues to be sweet and hardworking. Society can sometimes turn people in the other direction, and it’s nice to [meet] someone like her.”
When it comes to academics, Wells isn’t a big fan of school. Nevertheless, everyone around her admires her work ethic.
“Even if she has complications [after school], like band, she always finds time to work hard,” Snyder said. “Last year was tough with hybrid, but her math confidence improved and she really jumped into Geometry.”
Wells receives such compliments humbly, admitting that she doesn’t love getting attention because of the pressure. Niedzielski has noticed this about her, but doesn’t consider it a downfall.
“She doesn’t need people to know that she’s good at something,” Niedzielski said. “As long as she knows, I think that’s all that matters.”
