Glacier senior inspired by grandparents’ strength, love

[The Inter Lake is spotlighting standout graduates with the Class of 2020.]

Glacier High senior Jasmine Walters lives by a simple philosophy: Life is a journey.

As she prepares to leave high school and take the next step down her path in life, Walters looks back at the road that has led her to this point, one with a bumpy start and plenty of twists and turns.

Life began with plenty of uncertainties for Walters. Many of the necessities that most take for granted were luxuries to her family. With no place to call home, her mother and father lived in their car or slept in a tent when Walters was a baby.

Matters only got worse for Walters when, at age 3, she lost her mother in a car accident and was left to live with her father and later a new stepmother, both of whom spent much time in and out of jail.

It was not an easy way to grow up.

“I remember having to run from the police all the time when I was younger,” Walters said. “They [her father and stepmother] even once made me answer the door and lie to the police while they hid under the bed.”

Circumstances began to change shortly after that incident. When Walters’ father was sent to prison, she spent a year bouncing from home to home among her relatives before ending up with the people that finally helped her start down the right path and have had the largest influence on her life — her grandfather Dan Sagen and his partner Rose Berger.

“I will always be thankful for my grandfather and his partner, Rose,” Walters said. “My grandfather is strong and protective and loves me so much. With him, I know I will always have a safe and loving home. Rose didn’t have to take on the role of raising me, but she chose to anyway. She has done so much for me and she has inspired me to do my best in everything that I do. “If I could be like anyone in my life, it would be Rose. She makes everyone feel special, loved and cared for.””

After attending school in Whitefish, Walters made the move to Smith Valley School as a seventh-grader, joining her grandmother, who teaches kindergarten there. Walters said some of her favorite school memories came while she was at Smith Valley, including the eighth-grade history trip to Virginia City and Lewis and Clark Caverns. It was during this time that she developed a love of art and drawing and also spent time with teachers Natalie Mayhew and Dorothy Lofgren, both of whom she says had a great impact on her life.

Walters brought her love of drawing with her to Glacier High School, where she continued to enjoy art class as she worked her way toward graduation.

“I love to draw, especially roses, lions or tigers — lots of flowers and animals,” she said. “Art class has always been my favorite and I want to keep art as a big part of my life.”

LIFE TOOK one more wild turn during her senior year as she and her fellow classmates had to adapt to a new style of learning during the COVID-19 shutdown.

“It’s insane. It made it pretty hard to get everything done for all of my classes so I could graduate,” she said. “I have also been pretty strict about staying at home since my grandparents are in the at-risk category. I’ve been stuck at home and haven’t been able to see my friends that much, but I know it is for the best.”

Her hard work and perseverance will pay off Saturday as she joins her fellow Glacier High School seniors at Legends Stadium for the school’s graduation ceremony at 11 a.m.

Much like the rest of her life, her graduation ceremony will be a unique event that is sure to be remembered, an optional event where students must sit 6 feet apart and are limited to two guests each.

“At least when I grow up, I will have an interesting story about my high school graduation,” Walters said with a laugh. “I don’t think any other class has ever had a graduation ceremony quite like this.”

After graduation, Walters hopes to get in a little time enjoying the outdoors before starting at Flathead Valley Community College in the fall. Her major is still undecided, but she knows she will be taking as many art classes as she can.

“Though I am a little scared to start on this new road in the journey of my life, I am also excited,” she said. “I will miss my high school and the friends I have made there, but I can’t wait to start college and I look forward to the future.”

Reporter Jeremy Weber may be reached at jweber@dailyinterlake.com.