This Week's Senior: Carla Lutz

Carla Lutz is a senior at Wheaton North High School. Her interests are wide-spread, including photography, pole vaulting and playing the piano.  At Wheaton North, Carla is an active member of  the Varsity Speech Team, Girls’ Track and Field, Student Council, Spanish Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Falcon Ambassadors, and she is the Vice President of the National Honors Society. Outside of school, she volunteers bi-weekly for the West Suburban Humane Society and runs her own freelance photography business, Clutzy Artworks. Carla will attend Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida next year. She will major in Computer Animation.

Wheaton Patch: Why did you choose this college?

Carla Lutz: I wanted to go to a school with an intense program filled with people who loved what they were doing.  Ringling is 3rd in the world and 1st in the nation for their computer animation program and though the courses are tough, everyone at the campus is extremely happy and so dedicated to their studies.  I decided that I wanted to surround myself with people who are passionate about art and I wanted to study under faculty who have worked in the field and are willing to help you in any way possible.

Patch: What is your favorite memory from this year so far?

Lutz: My favorite memory of this year was being in the fall play and performing with the people I had come to know so well.

Patch: What’s your favorite memory from all of high school?

Lutz: My favorite memory from all of high school was during my junior year when I was pole vaulting at an indoor meet.  Everyone was watching me and supporting me and I tied my personal record from the season prior.  It was an amazing feeling to have all my teammates there supporting me and it was one of the first times I had ever been in the top three for pole vaulting.

Patch: What is the best thing about being a senior?

Lutz: Finally knowing how to get to your classes.

Patch: What will you miss about high school?

Lutz: All of the amazing people and teachers I have been able to meet and learn from.

Patch: What won’t you miss about high school?

Lutz: Waking up early.

Patch: What are your summer plans?

Lutz: I plan to take summer courses in drawing as well as work a summer job to raise money for college.  I will also be taking more senior portraits this summer and maybe photographing a wedding or two.

Patch: What is your favorite activity/club/sport that you participate in?

Lutz: I absolutely love pole vaulting on the Track team.  It was something I joined on a whim and there's nothing else that compares to it--it really feels like you're flying!  I love mentoring the newer ‘vaulters and giving back to them [and sharing my] knowledge so that they can be successful in pole vault as well.

Patch: What is your advice for the next senior class?

Lutz: Make the most of your final year of high school; don't be afraid to join any new sports or clubs, just have fun with it because your senior year really does fly by.

Patch: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Lutz: In 10 years, I see myself working for a big company, such as Pixar or DreamWorks, working on the next upcoming movie.

Patch: What will you miss most about Wheaton?

Lutz: I will miss the amazing schools and how close all of the stores are to my home.

Patch: “When I visit home, the first thing I’ll do is...”

Lutz: Go to Portillo's and eat their legendary chocolate cake.

Patch: What song will always remind you of your senior year?

Lutz: “Magic” by B.O.B.  It was one of the songs that we played going down to State for Speech and it will always have that memory for me.

Patch: Favorite Wheaton hang-out?

Lutz: Yo-Yo Land!  They have the best frozen yoghurt ever!

Patch: Favorite lunch item?

Lutz: Chewy Granola Bars.  So addicting and so delicious.

Patch: Favorite class you’ve taken so far?

Lutz: Sociology - It really changed my mind about why people act the way they do and changed my thought process completely.

Patch: How do you plan on keeping in touch with your high school friends?

Lutz: Skype, Facebook, and snail mail-- because I love getting letters in the mail more than anything.

Patch: What is your goal for the end of the year? What do you hope to accomplish before graduation?

Lutz: My goal is to get a summer job by graduation and really develop my artistic abilities to the point where I can draw anything, anywhere and be happy with my art.