Emily White holding paintbrushes.

By: Sara Awad and Brandi Puckett

Emily White is a double threat at Knightdale High School. This senior is talented behind an easel and on the tennis courts. She is currently the top seed on our Women’s Varsity tennis team with a 4-6 record in her singles matches and a 9-1 mark in her doubles matches with partner Paige Peterson. On top of that, Emily has taken Arts I, II, and III and Sculptures I. She loves impressionist painting and will take Painting I next semester.

White started drawing when she was only in Kindergarten. She says, “I still have drawing books from kindergarten, like a little train I drew.” Some of her favorite creation include a reverse light chalk piece of her as a baby, an impressionist painting of her mother playing hopscotch, and a sea goddess mask. When asked who her mentor is, White responded in saying “Obviously, Ms. Adams is my mentor.” She also looks up to her favorite artist Claude Monet, who was one of the first artists to do impressionism.

When it comes to her personal ambitions, Emily aspires to go to either NC State or UNCW. She would like to major in either Medical or Psychology fields. White also plans to participate in volunteer work at Cancer Centers of North Carolina in Raleigh and join the Peace Corps.

White is happy to be a part of the expanding KHS art department and notes that the higher-level art classes have increased enrollment. She comments that one can learn “everything” from art, and “it gives you time to think about life in general.” Emily is inspired to create art because,“I just want to make something beautiful. When I look at a piece of art, I want to feel happy and forget the world’s imperfections.”