2005 Young Achievers

5th grader has diverse career goals

(First in a series)

Eleven-year-old Holly Doerr wants to be a children's author when she grows up. That is, unless she becomes a professional singer or a marine biologist. Or maybe she'll do all three.

Holly Doerr

At this time, the 5th grader at Gotsch Intermediate School in south St. Louis County might seem further along as a writer. She's been thinking about story ideas since pre-school. Now, she's at work on a chapter book, tentatively titled "Shark Attack."

But, she's also busy as a straight-A student and active in school government. She takes dance lessons, is teaching herself to play the guitar, writes song lyrics and is active in the Girl Scouts.

This record of accomplishment helped Holly become one of ten 2005 Gateway Young Achievers. This marked the 15th year that the awards have been given to elementary, middle and senior high students.

The awards are given for outstanding accomplishments in school and various service and artistic areas. Holly was one of two elementary school students who were honored for all-around achievement. Over 370 young people were nominated for the competition.

(Young Saint Louis.com last month published an article about the 2005 Young Achiever winners. To read that article, click here.)

(The profile on Holly is the first in a series on the 2005 winners. Each following edition will include another profile of an elementary and middle school winner. YSL.com is a website targeted to St. Louis-area kids, ages 8-13.)

Fifth grade teacher Anna Steffen nominated Holly for the Young Achiever award. Ms. Steffen said, "Holly is a strong asset in our classroom. She deserves to be recognized for her outstanding leadership skills, academic success and service to the community."

Holly has served as a Student Senate Representative for the past three years.

"The Student Senate studies how we can help improve our school," she said. Then, they try to get school officials or school board members to act on suggestions, she added.

One of the projects was to get more balls for use in recesses, she said. Another effort is to get the hallway to the 5th grade classrooms air-conditioned.

She also works in the school's early-morning store, where kids can buy school supplies and some snacks. Last month, the current store workers began training 4th graders who will take over in the 2005-06 school year.

Holly is a member of Gotsch Intermediate's S.A.I.L. program. That's an accelerated academic program. Kids in the program gather on Wednesdays to study a variety of subjects.

There's a lot of emphasis on writing in advanced classes. But, Holly does more on her own.

"I've been writing stories for as long as I can remember," she said. One of her recent books was titled, "True Calling."

She explained that True is the heroine of the book. She's a girl who has the power to stop history and "go back and change things so no one dies," Holly said.

She acknowledged that she has one writing weakness. She has trouble ending a story because she's always thinking of more twists in the plot.

Holly said she also likes to read. Her favorite books are usually fiction, science fiction and mysteries.

She has been a straight-A student since pre-school. She said she thinks she's on track to finish this year with all-As. Holly moves to Rogers Middle School for 6th grade next fall.

On the community service side, she's been active in Girl Scouts. But, she also tries to help around the neighborhood.

One of her favorite activities was helping parents across the street when the mother gave birth to twins. "I helped with their 3-year-old when the twins came," Holly said.

The family has since moved to Waterloo, Ill. But, Holly said, "I go over a couple times a month to play with the kids."

She's looking forward to doing more babysitting. "The family that moved in across the street is going to have a new baby soon," she said.

As for her multiple choice of possible adult occupations, Holly has the background for being a children's book writer and a singer. But, she's not sure where the marine biologist idea came from. "But, it would be fun to do all three," she said.