Timber Echo editor Tana Thornton says she likes being around people, all kinds.
That gregarious spirit will be helpful in her role as editor of the SHHS student yearbook, whose theme is “You Just Had To Be There.”
A senior, 16-year-old Thornton is the daughter of Mike and Karen Thornton of rural Crawfordsville. This is her second year on the yearbook staff.
“I started out to be a photographer and then ended up writing for the newspaper,” Thornton said. “I like writing about people, especially controversial issues like morality or others that affect society.”
A Christian, Thornton said she has definite views about some issues, such as abortion and the rights of the unborn.
As editor, Thornton says she probably won’t write as much as she would like this year, but will focus on “seeing that things go smoothly.”
Home schooled for several years, Thornton enjoys the social life at public school.
“I like seeing why people react the way they do to certain things. I just enjoy people,” she said.
In addition to writing, Thornton has enjoyed running cross country and track, playing soccer, keeping wrestling stats and being in Spanish Club.
Undecided about where she will attend college, Thornton says she would like to focus on sports medicine programs where she can work with kids and other athletes.
Her senior year “is going great. It is my favorite year so far.”
If she could live high school over, she would have gotten more involved with student body activities and “talked more in class.”
Thornton and her family attend the Cornerstone Christian Fellowship church.
Yearbook adviser Jon Cohrs said Thornton is a natural as editor.
“She is very inquisitive, which is a tremendous asset in journalism,” Cohrs said. “She’s a very good writer, able to express things in a way that people can understand and care about the subject.”
Cohrs added that Thornton is effective as a leader and accepts input very well.
“She’s not afraid to try new things. She has come along very quickly in not only technical skills but also understanding how important leadership is.”