Ashland High School senior, Joelle Annen, finds herself immersed in the same passions at 17 that she began to pursue during her early childhood. At the age of three, her parents enrolled her in soccer. Her father is a soccer coach and her mother played throughout her youth. This decision catalyzed Annen’s current passion and dedication to the sport. Today, much of her time is consumed by both AHS, Club practices, and games. Annen has also enjoyed reading as a hobby since she was a child. (Although, she notes, “not when it’s for school.”) She gets a lot of reading recommendations from Tiktok.

As the 2019 Coronavirus blanketed the Rogue Valley, Annen was among the many teenagers whose lives were dramatically transformed by newfound fear and safety measures. One of her biggest weaknesses, allowing small problems to bring her stress, was only amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic. She had to take a step back from soccer for a few months, due to COVID, which turned out to be helpful when it came to Annen’s self-care. Annen’s passion and ability to stay organized and motivated when faced with a challenge make her an excellent member of the Rogue News team. We look forward to enjoying the fantastic work she is sure to produce in the near future.