A Volunteer at heart

Mother McAuley High School senior Michelle Garner loves Tennessee. She has family in the Knoxville area. If everything works out in the next few weeks, she will probably make a college choice between the University of Tennessee and Vanderbilt, or maybe even Creighton.

"When I visited the Creighton campus in Omaha, Neb., I bought a cowboy hat and boots," she said. "But growing up I've spent a lot of time in Tennessee, whether it has been hiking, camping or just visiting family."

Garner has plenty of goals she wants to reach in her life.

"I want to major in anthropology and pre-pharmacy, make a lot of money, buy a huge farm and keep learning how to play the banjo," Garner said with a smile. "I received a banjo as a Christmas gift, and I've been playing the country music of Keith Urban. It's awesome, even though I have callouses on my fingers because I'm playing so much. I also like 'Keep on the Sunny Side' by the Carter Family, and I'm working on Earl Scruggs."

Garner has sure left an impression on the students and teachers at Mother McAuley. The 18-year-old resident of Oak Lawn owns a 4.13 grade-point average and 32 ACT score. She has been involved in National Honor Society, French Honor Society, yearbook, student ambassador, track and field, basketball and softball. She is a National Merit Commended student, an AP Scholar with honors and is captain of the math team.

"When I got cut from the basketball team last year, I decided to give track and field a try," she said. "I compete in the shot put and discus, and I'm having a great time. It's all about learning the right technique. I just want to make a contribution to the team."

She has even found time to work in the bakery department at the local Jewel.

"I like to bake and put the icing on the cakes," he said. "The toughest part of the job is eating the free samples."

Garner is a big fan of any book or movie about "Harry Potter." She would pay to see Fleetwood Mac and Alabama in concert and loves watching the "E True Hollywood Story" on television. Her favorite movie is "Ocean's 13" and she likes watching the nationally ranked Tennessee Lady Vols basketball team.

"I've seen the Lady Vols play DePaul two times in Chicago," she said. "I'm also a big football fan."

Traveling in the future will be one of her top priorities

"I want to see Egypt, Las Vegas and the Great Wall of China," she said of the interesting variety of destinations. "I love meeting new people from all over the world."

When Garner traces her solid academic, she remembers how her mother made sure homework always got done.

"And Mom always encouraged us to read books, which is so important," she said.

But learning how to play the banjo is something Garner is doing all by herself.