For most students, balancing different activities in and outside of school can be a challenge, but for senior Molly Wise, managing the load of academics, art, band and other activities isn’t a problem.

“She is a balanced person and a great leader in the classroom,” history teacher Chad Cryer said. “She takes part in volunteer organizations outside of school and has been involved in athletics. There is no area that you could say she is weak in.”

As an art student, Wise demonstrates leadership by helping other students and managing her own workload.

“In my class, she would help the students who fell behind,” art teacher John Burrows said. “She always took initiative to push herself further which demonstrated to others that they could do the same thing.”

As an involved leader, Wise takes initiative to try as many art projects as she can.

“I like my picture of Fabiola eating a sandwich,” Wise said, “and a sketch I did of Morgan Freeman that I did a lot my first year in art.”

Although Wise isn’t looking for a career in art she will keep painting as a hobby.

“It lets you have control over something you create from start to finish,” Wise said. “With playing music, you’re playing someone else’s music, but art is your own idea and your own way of doing it.”

Senior band member Fabiola Gonzales said that Wise shows leadership and has many responsibilities as band president.

“She sets up fundraisers, she was field captain and helped out the freshmen who were new coming into band,” Gonzales said. “She’s very patient, and I wouldn’t be able to do that,”

Cryer said that Wise depicts many examples of what it takes to be a good leader.

“She volunteers for things, she doesn’t have to be called upon. She takes initiative; she has drive,” Cryer said. “She’s not just the person that you look to, to say they’re a good leader. Other people seek to follow her because she is that good of a leader.”

Last year, Wise traveled to China and Romania, which she said was a great learning experience.

“I’ve been to Shanghai. It was interesting,” Wise said “The different culture and big city vibe was great,” Wise said. “Romania was really neat because we went to the capital and the countryside and they are completely different. The capital is such a big city, and in the countryside they ride horses and do a lot of farming.”