Dakota Sanders

GATE student finds her niche

By Emilee Mae Struss

Silver Creek High School student Dakota Sanders hopes to graduate this year, though she is technically a junior. Sanders has been in the Gifted And Talented Education (GATE) program since she was in second grade.

“Being in the GATE program since I was little just showed me that I learned different from other kids, and faster,” Sanders said.

When Sanders became of appropriate age, she started taking a full course load of Advanced Placement classes; however, she still felt that something was off about her education.

Sanders said she feels nothing is wrong with traditional education but she just knew she did not fit there. She needed an alternative, but struggled to discover where her unique learning capabilities could fit best.

Sanders started attending SCHS mid-December last year.

“Silver Creek is perfect for me because there are only 50 students and the advisors are really involved,” Sanders said. “I was also able to catch up on all my credits and could test out of some classes.”

Last year, Sanders applied for and received a scholarship to attend the Writers’ Conference in Sun Valley. She attended many powerful talks and made connections with very accomplished writers, including author Ridley Pearson, whom she now works for as a personal assistant.

“I like working with Pearson,” Sanders said. “He needs a teen to help with slang and wording to make his young-adult novels legit, so I help with that.”

Sanders enjoys learning about multimedia and trying her hand at various types of art when she isn’t working for Pearson. She hopes to attend a university in Washington post-graduation for graphic design and, potentially, psychology. For several years she has been making signs and logos using Adobe Draw and playing around with her iPad Pro, learning photography and editing photos.

Last year, Sanders also applied for and received a grant from the Blaine County Education Foundation to build a longboard, after breaking her own.

“I wrote a paper about the science of longboarding—the history and culture and even skating fashion,” Sanders said. “With the grant, I bought the bamboo and maple wood, and with the help of my dad, we made a longboard.”

Sanders then painted the bottom with a mystical character with humanistic features—a character that Sanders explains has appeared in some of her previous work.

“I didn’t know what I was going to paint at first,” Sanders said, “but then I just sent it.”

She has developed many great friendships through SCHS and is inspired by the staff.

“One of the most inspirational people I know is Thor Top,” Sanders said. “He is always there when anybody needs him. He is like the dad of our school and brings such a light to the entire school.”

Top is an advisor and teacher at SCHS. Sanders expresses gratitude for many individuals in helping her find her unique pathway to education and self-development.

“I am proud of myself for continuing to try in school,” Sanders said. “A lot of GATE students drop out of school and I just didn’t want to be a statistic, so I chose to stay.”