Learning to Balance

October 14, 2010
Learning to Balance

By Ingram Hansmann

Carla Hemminger            

Juggling several things at once is something Carla Hemminger, a junior at Ogilvie Public School, has become very accustomed to this year. “We have a four day school week, and it makes life very hectic”, says Hemminger, who is also enrolled in PSEO at Anoka-Ramsey Community College, where she is taking Music Marketing and Reporting for the Media, both online classes. “Although I love school, this year has not started out so well.” Hemminger says she enjoys her college Music Class, more then writing news stories, because, “Its difficult to adjust to the AP style, and writing in third person.”

 In addition to attending high school and college, Hemminger also plays high school varsity volleyball, an activity that she enjoys doing in part because it helps her, “just relax and have fun, and forget about the stress.” A summer spent battling sleep insomnia has left her with a new appreciation for sleep, saying, “now that I can actually sleep, I love it very much!”

Hemminger also has a passion for all animals she says, “especially horses and dogs”, and says spends any free time she has riding horse with her best friend, Kassandra, who is also attending Anoka-Ramsey. Hemminger is the younger of two children. Her mother, Yvonne, is a head-housekeeper at an AmericInn. Her father, Mike, worked for Denny Hecker, and is currently unemployed.

 After graduating high school next year, Hemminger plans on attending a Christian college and becoming a  LPN, or Licensed Practical Nurse.

            

Interview #1 transcript

Where do you live and go to school? Do you like school? And if so, why? 

  I live in Ogilvie, Minnesota and I attend Ogilvie Public School. We have a 
four day school week, and it makes life very hectic. Although I love 
school, this year has not started out so well. Trying to juggle high school 
, part time online PSEO, playing volleyball for both junior varsity and 
varsity, and chores at home is not an easy task. I am taking two online 
courses, Music Marketing and Reporting for the Media. I do enjoy my music 
class, but so far I’m not enjoying writing news stories. Writing usually 
comes easy for me, and when it doesn’t I tend to get annoyed and 
frustrated. It’s difficult to adjust to the AP style, and writing in 
third person.

Where are you in life right now? Where would you like to be? How will you 
get there? 

  Like I said before, I am a junior in high school. After I graduate next 
year, I would like to attend a Christian college and become a Licensed 
Practical Nurse. 

What are some hobbies you enjoy? Why do you like these certain ones? 

  I enjoy playing volleyball. Both of my best friends play, and so practice 
is a way we can talk, converse, and just relax, have fun, and forget about 
the stress. I also love sleeping, as sad as that sounds. All summer I’ve 
battled sleep insomnia, so now that I can actually sleep, I love it very 
much!

What is your passion in life, what do you love to do over anything else?  

  I have a passion for all animals, especially horses and dogs. I have a best 
friend named Kassandra, who also attends Anoka Ramsey, and we spend most of 
our free time riding our horses. If we ever have free-time that is! 

  Is this what you want to do as a career? How do you plan on getting there?
This is not what I want to do as a career. 

A little bit about your family. Do you have any siblings? Are you the 
oldest, youngest, or in between? 

  I have a very small family; My mum, Yvonne and my dad, Mike. My mum works 
at the AmericInn as a head-housekeeper. My dad is un-employed, as he worked 
for Denny Hecker. D:
I’m the baby of the family, I have a brother named Brandon, and he is 24 
years old.

Story 3

Media Writing

Story 3

Ingram Hansmann

10/7/10

Marsha L. Taylor, a 37 year old resident and cycling enthusiast, was the victim of a hit and run, sustaining severe injuries, including six broken ribs, a broken pelvis, and a mild concussion. Taylor, who has participated in both weekend rides and some races, said, “I was riding down 72nd St. almost to Southland Boulevard when a car hit me from behind and sent me flying off my bike.” Afterward, taylor said could remember nothing until she was in the hospital. 

Taylor begin bicycling in college, and this year rode in the annual Governors Bicycle Tour, and in a tour across the United States this fall, riding 3,500 miles altogether. She had only been back in town for about two weeks when the incident occurred. 

Recovery for Taylor took several months, during which she spent time at both a hospital and a rehabilitation clinic. In addition to broken bones, she also suffered internal injuries due to the incident, including a perforated liver and damaged gall bladder, both of which caused her skin to turn a bright orange. Said Taylor, “When my mother saw me she said I looked like a Halloween pumpkin. I had to go back to the hospital because of those complications.” 

Though injured physically, this painful brush with death has not dampened Taylor’s love for riding. Taylor is still determined to ride, saying “i’d be out there right now, but it’s hard to ride a bike when you have to use crutches.” According to Taylor, bicycling is safe, as long as you take the right precautions. These, Taylor said, include wearing protective clothing and a helmet. The last being more important, as Taylor put it. “I never ride unless I have my helmet. It probably saved my life.”

Taylor is a manger at a local McDonalds, and has lived here for 15 years. She still attends rehabilitation for her injuries three times a week.