News - Local News - Graduations

POSTED: Wednesday, Jun. 11, 2008

Meridian artist is family’s 1st college-bound grad

LAUREL — When Jessica King starts college at Seattle Pacific University this fall, it will mark not only a personal accomplishment but a family accomplishment.

King, who graduated from Meridian High School last week, will be the first person on her mom’s side of the family to attend a four-year college and the first person on her dad’s side to go to college of any kind.

“It’s always been kind of a joke that I’m going to be the first King to graduate,” the 18- year-old said. “(My dad’s side) has all grown up to be mechanics, so a diploma was not something they felt they needed at the time, but now they see it as a way more important thing.”

King, who is a Whatcom County native, has been thinking about going to college since she was a kid. But once she decided she wanted to be an art teacher, she knew she must get a college degree.

“My parents have always been behind me 100 percent,” she said. “They always pushed me to do what I wanted, but a lot of that came from my grandpa.”

King’s grandpa, who died last year, was one of the most influential people in her life.

“He always wanted me to go to college,” she said. “He was an inspiration. … He was probably one of the funniest and smartest people I’ve met.”

Throughout high school, King has participated in cross country and Honors Society and held the position of Associated Student Body treasurer. But she’s most proud of her accomplishments on the Mock Trial team, which earned third place at state competition this winter and moved on to a national competition in the spring.

“I really like law, but I’m not sure it’s something I want to do the rest of my life,” she said. “But art is my passion.”

King started drawing regularly as a child while at car racing events with her family. Her dad, who races a Ford Mustang, takes the family to Canada every year for various meets, and King used to kill time on the sidelines by drawing.

Now drawing and painting have almost turned into an obsession. Her bedroom walls are full of colorful painted “doodles,” a project she’s been working on throughout high school.

“When I come home from school or I’m stressed out, I paint on the wall,” she said. “It’s kind of like a de-stresser.”

At SPU, King plans to study art education, which she already has some experience in. For her senior project, King taught art lessons at Irene Reither Primary School.

“It just seems like a fun job,” she said. “I get to do what I love and share it with other people.”

While leaving the Meridian School District for a bigger city is exciting, King is having a hard time saying goodbye.

“In our school, everyone has known each other since kindergarten, and it’s hard to leave everyone now because we’re kind of like brothers and sisters,” she said. “I’m a little nervous, but I think I’m more excited than nervous because I’m ready for new things.”