Mintonette Sends Prospect High's Nicole Klug to Tennessee

The smile on Nicole Klug's face when we first met was heartwarming. She brushed away her bangs from her face and had a bit of a drawl in her speech, probably picked up from her visit to Tennessee.

She's funny, sweet and beaming with excitement as we sit down to talk.

The senior's life is intimately connected to volleyball.

Her parents met playing volleyball, she's played it so long she can't remember when she began and now, the next chapter of her life has been opened up partly because of her love and commitment to volleyball.

This is part of a series of high school graduation stories that will run throughout the week, highlighting high school seniors at the various school sites and their stories.

All the schools within the district are holding their graduation ceremonies on Thursday, June 9.

This is Nicole Klug's story.

Campbell Patch: How are you feeling?

Nicole Klug: I'm feeling sad and excited. It's going to be hard. Most of my friends are staying in the area but I'm going to Tennessee.

Patch: What will you miss most?

Nicole: My family. My sister, Theresa, starts high school next year and I'm going to miss her first class, her first volley ball game.

Patch: What will you miss least?

Nicole: How rude people are here. I visited Tennessee and everyone says hi there. Here, no one talks to you if you don't know them.

Patch: What are you looking forward to?

Nicole: Experiencing college. A whole new experience for me. I've never attended a private school and it's going to be small. I'm going to live on my own and be totally independent.

Patch: Who inspires you?

Nicole: My mom. She does everything! She's always on top of things. When I didn't have a car, she drove me to all my volleyball games. I had to take my sister to school when I started driving and I don't know how she does it.

Patch: What teacher made an impact in your life?

Nicole: Mrs. Thomas Anderson. She was always helping me outside of class. I had AP Chemistry and that was the hardest class last year.

Patch: What college are you planning on attending?

Nicole: Sewanee University in Tennessee. I had never heard of it really until their volleyball coach contacted me. I always thought I loved the beach and California. I visited and it's pretty nice. The other school I was considering was UC Santa Barbara. The two were totally different environments and I knew Tennessee was right for me.

Patch: Are you the first to go to college in your family?

Nicole: No. My parents both went to college but I'll be the first sibling in the family to go.

Patch: What do you want to be when you grow up?

Nicole: I want to be a marketing agent in business. It looks interesting and I'd like to do it.

Patch: What was your favorite high school memory?

Nicole: This year during the volleyball season. We had a breast cancer game and all wore pink socks. This team killed us the last time and we won all three games. It was really awesome. We all came together.

Patch: What was your most difficult high school challenge?

Nicole: Figuring out who your real friends are. This year was the hardest for this. I feel like I'm more mature, less trusting because of it.

Patch: What was your favorite class?

Nicole: AP English this year because it was full of people like me. People that like to read and we goofed off. Nerdy people. It was a really nice class.

Patch: What was your least favorite class?

Nicole: Health class. It was the most boring. I mean, really? We have to learn some of this stuff?

Patch: Any plans after graduation?

Nicole: Working this summer, babysitting, tutoring. We have a family trip to Southern California, nothing too exciting.

Patch: Why is it important to go to college?

Nicole: It just seems like something you do. I was brought up that it's necessary. It's also a big accomplishment too. Helps you feel better.

Without a college degree, it's hard to live.