teen spotlight
photography by Shelby Shubird
stats
16, Senior at Saint James School
notable
Drama Club Vice President
National Honor Society President
Keynote Emerging Artist of Promise Scholarship Winner
paige hemmer
Saint James School
quotable
“Always spread kindness and love.”
her story
Paige’s favorite thing about attending Saint James is the theatre
department. She revealed, “I’ve been performing since third
grade, and have had starring roles in the majority of the
seventeen productions I have done since sixth grade, when
auditions first opened for the main cast.” She shared this advice
for incoming freshmen, “Your grades are not more important
than your mental and physical health. The pursuit of perfection
will do much more harm than good. Do not sacrifice yourself
or your wellbeing to meet the expectations of others. If you
struggle with issues like anxiety or depression, you are not
alone, and you can find help. You are loved, you matter, and
you are enough.”
what’s next
Paige plans to pursue a career in live theatre, with a focus on
classical acting and costume design and construction. She
shared, “I have been performing ever since third grade, when I
performed in my department’s Children’s Choir. The second I
was able to audition for the main cast in sixth grade, I did, and
I’ve been in every show ever since.”
PG (parental guidance) rating
Paige’s parents have always encouraged her to follow her
passions, take chances, and see setbacks as temporary and as
learning opportunities. They have always supported her in
what she does in school and theatre.
parents’ perspective
Paige’s parents expressed, “She truly loves her friends and worries
about them. She shows great empathy for anyone in distress and
tries to comfort them if she’s able. No matter what she pours herself
into, she wants to do it well and is willing to put in the work necessary.
It does not matter if it is schoolwork, acting, cosplay, or video
games, she seeks excellence.”
parent-to-parent
Sandy and Chris Hemmer gave this advice to other
parents, “Embrace the parts of your child that are most
different from you—that is where you both can learn the
most from each other. Listen to your child when they tell you what
they want or need.
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Fall 2020
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