Korie is holding the violin she plays. Violin is just one of quite a few instruments she can play. Photo contributed by: Korie Rice

By: Eric Burch

One might know senior Korie Rice as the Sweetheart Queen of 2014 . When someone gets to know her, that person gets to know she is much more than just a crown and a bouquet of flowers. 

Rice comes from an interesting family. Until a few years ago, she was the only child of each of her parents. Since then her parents have remarried. Korie was blessed last year with a baby brother named Ben. Since it’s Korie’s senior year, she knows that she is going to college. However, she isn’t sure what she wants to go for. Korie has considered majoring in music therapy, but she also has considered majoring in science to obtain an optometry degree. She said that she went through a really hard time her freshman year with some troubles in her personal life. She shared some of the tough moments in her life, but she had a positive outlook on this. She said, “Now I see where my life is going, where it is now, and I have a little brother who is so cute and I love him so much. Now my dad is remarried and has a potential job in the works. It’s really nice to see how my life has developed so much and how successful I have become and how blessed my life has become in so many ways.”

Korie Rice loves holding her brother Ben. She has been looking forward to have a little brother for years, so when he was born last year she was so excited to accept him into the family. Photo contributed by: Korie Rice

This “Sweetheart Queen” told a story about the morning before the big dance. She was on her way home from her grandparents, and the song “Best Day of My Life,” came on the radio. She thought that was interesting because it was like foreshadowing the future for her night. When she was asked about how she felt when they called her name, she was “surprised but mostly excited.” After that, she got to dance with senior Jacob Hildebrand. Korie said that she never really talked to Jacob before but it was nice to get to know him.

She works at a place in Argos that is an antique store. She said she works with “antiques and crafts.” She said she makes “classy crafts.” Korie also said that she paints furniture that her boss brings in. “I think [my job] is a lot of fun.” She said that her boss asks her to do crafts and she feels that she does a good job with what she does. “I’ve been working there for two years.”

As a senior, she realizes that she will have to leave all of her underclassmen friends behind. Her friends left her last year, not on purpose, but because it was time for those to go to college. “A lot of my really close friends did graduate last year. It has been hard to not necessarily lose them, but not seeing them constantly like I used to. I have made stronger relationships with people I already knew.

When asked if she could give any advice to freshmen that are having a tough time, she replied with a common, but very true statement. “Mainly what helped me through my tough time was to look to God, if you’re religious. If you aren’t religious you need to remember that it will get better. Don’t let anyone get you down. I know it sounds cheesy and cliché but don’t give up. You have to believe that there is something better. You have to have something hopeful for your future.” Korie is a prime example of how anyone can be down to earth.

On the last day of school, Korie took a picture with her close friends. 4 out of 6 pictured are PHS graduates. From left, the pictured are Sarah Iwinski, Junior Eric Burch, Senior Korie Rice, Jessica Beagle, Shannon May, and Taylor Scott. Photo contributed by: Korie Rice