Class of 2013: That's the spirit! - 'Love the school you're from'

Jakeb Wilson has a penchant for drama, although he usually leaves it on the theater stage.

The Flathead High School senior is used to eliciting emotions from crowds with his performances in drama and speech and debate over the past four years.

Recently, he directed and performed in “One of Our Clowns is Missing,” by playwright Robert Frankel.

Participation in both drama and speech was a decision influenced by his older brother — and a bit of competitiveness.

“When I was an eighth-grader I saw him performing on stage. He was performing in ‘Dracula’ and I remember watching him thinking, ‘I could do that,’” Wilson said.

Wilson said his brother also encouraged him — forcefully — to join speech and debate, which had similarities to drama and performance. Wilson’s prime event during his high school career was Duo Humorous Interpretation. This year, he served as one of the Flathead speech team captains.

“They take care of the team; they keep them pumped up and make sure the underclassmen aren’t dying of nervousness,” Wilson said. “We give them guidance. This year, I worked single-handedly with a duo team. We worked hours in the practice room on techniques and blocking — how you should move at a certain time.”

The 18-year-old also serves as student council senior class president, a student aide and tutor at Peterson Elementary School. Freshman through junior year, he competed on the cross-country and tennis teams.

Tutoring has strengthened Wilson’s goal to major in elementary education at Montana State University-Bozeman. Wilson said his goal is to teach second grade.

He was sought out by a teacher at Peterson to become a positive role model to a second-grader. It has also given him a chance to revisit childhood and play with Lego blocks.

“Tuesdays and Thursdays I get to go over there and see my little buddy. He’s a second-grader and he struggles with math. Tuesday is our play day and Thursday is our math day where we go out into the hallway and work on math.”

Wilson has also worked with younger students in the Highlanders Track program. Wilson is taken by children’s creativity.

“They have such good imaginations,” Wilson said, noting that it makes teaching easier. “They want to imagine. You can yell out, ‘A dragon is coming,’ and they run faster. They just have a spark to them.”

School pride and a sociable personality definitely play a part in his involvement with extracurriculars and helping out where it’s needed, whether it’s trying to attend every Flathead basketball game or fixing things around the school.

“I love talking to people,” Wilson said. “In terms of school spirit, I can see spirit as being involved and you love where you’re from.”

Wilson tries to boost school morale through his thoughts and actions. Occasionally, he has to turn negative perceptions associated with the school being “old” and turn them into a positive notion that Flathead is a school steeped in history and tradition with a lot of opportunities for student involvement.

“I try to keep other kids excited about our school,” Wilson said.

Every Friday he rejects casual wear, instead going for “Fancy Friday” attire of suits and ties, according to Flathead guidance counselor Chelsea McCann. She said this is one example of Wilson going above and beyond in his enthusiasm for education.

“He also has a great attitude daily, with a smile on his face. Many of our students look up to him as a leader and positive influence on decision making. He is admired and trusted by adults, always lends a hand and always goes above and beyond,” McCann said in an email.

Wilson contemplated for a moment what impression he wanted to leave behind after graduation.

“I guess I want to leave behind a sense of pride in the school,” Wilson said. “I hope people have viewed me as a nice, understanding person. I know I care a lot for people and I hope they take that and respect our school because I know I do.”

His advice for underclassmen is to stick with school until graduation day and get involved.

“Love the school you’re from because somewhere in the world, someone is not getting an education,” Wilson said.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.