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TEEN OF THE WEEK
Solanco athlete, leader has variety of interests BY LAURA KNOWLES, Correspondent
Kristina King is not one to sit still for long.
"I have a lot of interests and I like to keep busy," the Solanco High School senior says.
One of the places she plans to go next fall is Penn State York, where she hopes to major in communications and public relations. Eventually she would like to work in public relations, and maybe have her own PR firm one day.
That makes a lot of sense for the friendly, personable and energetic high school student. She excels in academics, and serves in student government. She has been involved in student government for all four years of high school, and serves as vice president of her class.
She is also a member of the Solanco High School prom committee, working with other committee members to plan a memorable prom, complete with fun-filled decorations and festivities for the event.
King is also an athlete, having participated on the high school track team since seventh grade. She runs in the 100-, 200- and 400-meter events, as well as relays, with her team making it to districts. While she loves the individual aspect of track, she also likes being a part of a team.
"I am a team player," she says. "I enjoy being an individual on a team."
That's part of the reason she is so enthusiastic about playing volleyball on her high school team. An offside hitter, she has been playing for school teams since eighth grade.
She actually has been playing volleyball a lot longer than that. Her family has made volleyball part of its family reunions and summer get-togethers. King was always out there, playing with aunts, uncles, cousins and other family members.
She is also fond of winter sports, joining her family and friends for ski trips to the Poconos and other Pennsylvania locations. As soon as the weather gets cold, King heads to the ski slopes and to local ice-skating spots, such as the ice rink at Clipper Magazine Stadium.
King takes her team spirit into academic realms as well. She is part of her school's gifted program, and participates in Model UN and Mock Trial programs. She also competes as part of a team in Knowledge Master Open and Odyssey of the Mind.
She has worked with a church youth group doing missionary work helping to build a roof on a children's camp in the Bahamas. She works as server at Caf' 18 in Lancaster.
King, the daughter of David and Michele King of New Providence, has many other interests, including scrap-booking, design, shopping, spending time with friends, reading and movies.
She is especially drawn to books and films with a historic aspect, such as "Unbroken."
King's interest in the past might stem from her ancestry.
"My grandfather grew up Amish, but he never joined the church," King says.
Although she was not brought up Amish, she has relatives who are Amish and enjoys family get-togethers with friendship and delicious food.
Living in Lancaster County, she hopes to let outsiders know more about the truth of the Amish, counteracting images brought about by TV shows like "Amish Mafia."
"Those images are not based on reality, and I hope people understand that the Amish live their lives honestly with time-honored values," King says.
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