By: Sophia Braida
Grace Lake, a senior at Wallenpaupack, is an athlete whose energy, determination, and passion have shaped her high school journey. As a two-sport athlete, Grace plays both softball and field hockey for Wallenpaupack and also competes in travel softball throughout the year. While she enjoys both sports, softball holds a special place in her heart, as she has been playing since she was seven years old.
Grace’s dedication to sports is matched by her commitment to academics. Starting in freshman year, she challenged herself with a full schedule of honors classes. Balancing them with two sports wasn’t something she thought she would struggle with since it hadn’t ever happened to her before. Grace took this challenge to better her mindset and says, “If you want something bad enough, you’ll find a way to make it work.”
One of Grace’s proudest achievements is when her teammates voted her captain of the field hockey team this year. The moment felt especially meaningful because she got to share it with her best friend, Averie Fullum. The two had been close for over eleven years and started field hockey together during middle school. Grace also refers to these shared moments as her favorite memories from high school.
Looking towards the future, she has her sights set on a four-year university and a career in education. Wallenpaupack’s Child Care program played a major role in shaping her dream. Inspired by her experiences and Mrs. Geisheimer’s teachings, Grace plans to study either Early Childhood or Elementary Education. After college, she hopes to begin teaching students or substitute teaching for a while before landing a full-time teaching role.
Her biggest short-term goal is to commit to a college softball program by the end of this semester. She hopes to be remembered just as she is now by her friends: energetic, empathetic, hardworking, and outgoing.
