WRHS senior gets inspiration from ‘Down Under’
By Emilee Mae Struss
Transferring schools as a junior can be a very intimidating idea and challenging process, especially when you’ve known the same group of students for the majority of your life. That’s how senior Joseph Ziesing’s story at Wood River High School begins. He was born in North Dakota and then moved to Nampa with his family, where he attended most of his schooling.
“I was a little nervous at the start,” said Ziesing, “but it has been a great experience.”
Ziesing didn’t waste any time. He jumped right in to the B-Tones, an all-male choral group; Jazz Band; and Jenny and the Bets, another jazz band group. He played Professor Plum in the play Clue performed by the WRHS drama department and will be co-directing Seinfeld, a one-act play, this year.
He is also hitting his course load at WRHS quite hard. Currently, Ziesing is enrolled in Advanced Placement Government, A.P. Calculus, A.P. Micro-Economics, A.P. U.S. History and A.P. Literature. Ziesing is on track to graduate this year with a 3.8 GPA.
Outside of his full course load and musical commitments, Ziesing is a practicing magician and spray-paint artist. He started learning magic two years and spray-paint art one year ago. He also enjoys creative writing. One of his dreams is to travel to Australia, for it has already brought him great inspiration.
For his personal project, a requirement for graduation at WRHS, Ziesing learned how to play the didgeridoo. He also made a makeshift one out of plastic piping. The didgeridoo is an Australian wind instrument that’s also known as a natural wooden trumpet. It’s very thin and typically with artistic designs and colors on it.
Beyond musical instruments, one of Ziesing’s most prized possessions is an Aussie Outback hat. And a few of his favorite actors—Margot Robbie, Hugh Jackman, and Heath Ledger—are all Australian.
Ziesing isn’t sure when he will get the chance to travel to Australia but it’s high on his travel list. And for next year, he is attending Northwest University in Kirkland, Wash., with a full tuition scholarship to become an English teacher.
“In general, one of the best things about moving here last year was it really prepared me to start completely new in college next year,” Ziesing said. “I’m really looking forward to it.”
Editor’s Note: Anyone who would like to recommend a Blaine County School District student for The Weekly Sun’s “Student Spotlight” feature should contact Emilee Struss at emilee.struss@gmail.com.
