Federal Way Public Schools Alumni of Note
Rachelle Edwards
Veterinary Medicine Student, Washington State University
Thomas Jefferson High School
Graduate, Class of 2006
Many children have novel dreams of their future careers – they want to be astronauts, mermaids or fighter pilots. As adults, they often look back and laugh. Not Rachelle Edwards. She is working to fulfill the dream career she’s had since she was a first-grader at Lake Dolloff Elementary – a veterinarian.
Edwards, a 2006 Thomas Jefferson High School graduate, graduated in 2010 from Washington State University with an Honors College Diploma, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Neuroscience with a pre-veterinary emphasis and a minor in Psychology. She plans to continue her education at WSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine.
Before college, Edwards attended Lake Dolloff Elementary, Kilo Middle School and Thomas Jefferson High School. She credits the International Baccalaureate program with aiding her success. “Thomas Jefferson’s I.B. program most certainly prepared me for my rigorous college coursework. The time management skills and work ethic I developed in high school definitely helped me hit the ground running,” she said. “I earned a full I.B. diploma, and many of these classes also transferred over to WSU’s curriculum as credits on my transcript. I was also a participant in the Math Team.”
Edwards recalls that Amy Sutherland and Penny Bullock were among her most influential teachers. “They kept my mind sharp and disciplined and were fantastic influences on me. I hold a great amount of respect for each of them and all they have done for me,” she said. “Thomas Jefferson will always stand out to me as the school that taught me the most. It was there that I developed a real love for education.”
Edwards offers the following advice to current students: “Keep an open mind. Not everyone grows up knowing what they want to devote their life to, so experience as much as you can and be true to your preferences.”