Kailea Golis is a kind, passionate, and mindful junior here at Mountainside High School. Born and raised in Hawaii, she spent her days on Big Island, swimming in its beautiful beaches and watching sunsets with her family.
The beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic was when she moved to Oregon. ‘‘It was scary!’’ she recalled. ‘‘You could get sick, you couldn’t go anywhere, and you were stuck in the house. I didn’t know anyone, and it was hard.” One thing she likes about Oregon is that there’s a lot more variety of things to do than in Hawaii. ‘‘You don’t have to see the same places over and over again.’’
Amidst quarantine, Kailea picked up a new hobby that was trending on social media: crocheting. She’s crocheted clothes, stuffed animals, stuffed food, and mini people. Along with crocheting, she enjoys reading and writing, playing with her Golden Retriever – Sam – and hanging out with friends and family. Summer is her favorite time of year, celebrating a June birthday and preferring hot weather over cold weather. She and her sister spent many afternoons walking on the bridge near their house this past summer. She’s the second-oldest of four siblings. When asked what it’s like to have a big family, she answered, ‘‘It’s chaotic, but you’re never bored. You always have someone to talk to.’’
Whether in class or on the bus, you can guarantee to find Kailea listening to music. Her favorite song is Lover by Taylor Swift, and her favorite genre is pop. She listens to both old and modern music, especially Elvis Presley.
During her past high school years, Kailea didn’t know journalism class existed. Because of her enthusiasm for writing, however, she joined the class. She’s looking forward to being part of the Human Interest department, collecting information from peers, and publishing articles for people to read.
As for the future, she’s interested in healthcare and becoming a nurse. “Most of my family members are nurses, and I like working with children,’’ she explained. She wants to attend a good college, and aspires to travel to all fifty states, as well as Greece, Italy, and Spain. For her junior year, Kailea hopes to meet new people and have a good, stress-free time overall.
