By: Sophia Braida
Ty Lounsbury, a senior at Wallenpaupack, is someone who thrives on curiosity, critical thinking, and meaningful involvement. In her free time, she enjoys reading, writing, and learning new things, especially topics that challenge her intellectually and encourage deeper thought. This love for thinking and learning carries over into every aspect of her high school experience.
Ty is heavily involved in her school and community. She participates in National Honor Society, Student Ambassadors, FCCLA, Aevidum, Paupack Press, and Leadership and Diversity. Outside of school, she also serves on the Wayne County Youth Advisory Committee, where she works alongside others to help determine how grants are distributed: an experience that has given her real-world insight into decision-making and leadership. Of all her activities, Leadership and Diversity stands out as her favorite. Through this group, Ty helped create the Lakeside Lounge and worked toward policy changes such as allowing hats and hoods in school. She values the fact that students lead the work and make changes, and she has enjoyed attending statewide conferences.
After graduation, Ty plans to attend Butler University in Indiana, where she intends to study psychology and political science. She has always been fascinated by human behavior, and the reasons people think and act the way they do. Her interest in political science grew naturally from this, as she wants to understand societal issues and eventually help change policies that negatively affect others. While she is still exploring specific career paths, she envisions herself working behind the scenes in policymaking or doing something that combines both fields. She also plans to attend graduate school and hopes to eventually earn a doctorate.
Ty’s high school journey has not been without challenges. Severe anemia caused her to miss much of her junior year, and she has had to switch between online and in-person learning multiple times due to health issues. Despite this, she maintained strong academics and recently earned straight A’s, something she is incredibly proud of. These struggles have made her more hardworking, mature, and appreciative of her health.
Ultimately, Ty hopes to be remembered as an honest, educated individual, and someone who is unafraid to speak the truth. She values intelligence deeply and strives to use her time in high school to become the best version of herself, putting her all into every year and every opportunity.
