Articulate and polite, Tabitha Johnson personifies the Latin aphorism of carpe diem, which means "seize the day."

"I think it is important to be involved in what interests you as you figure out what you want to do in life," she said.

A senior at Lt. Gen. W.H. Harrison Preparatory School, an International Baccalaureate World School, Johnson is well on her way to taking control of her destiny.

The school is a public high school of the Clover Park School District, located in Lakewood. Student attendance is approximately 650 in grades six through 12. It has a student-to-teacher ratio of 20.9 to 1.

"Tabitha is a tremendous leader in the school," wrote Kevin Repprecht, the principal of Harrison Prep. "She is actively involved in our Student Leadership program, and she is a great example of academic success and civic involvement."

Johnson's list of achievements is impressive:  She is an honors student, an accomplished member of the school's Chamber Choir, a leader in the Thespian Society/Drama Club, a member of the Associated Student Body, the photo editor of the yearbook, and a student ambassador on the City of Lakewood's Youth Council.

"I learn quickly, and I pick up knowledge fast," she said. "I am very self-aware."

Upon graduation, Johnson plans on attending either Pacific Lutheran University or Oberlin College where she wants to study physics and astronomy.

"I've always been good in math, and I think astronomy is super interesting," she added.

When asked who her inspiration is to work as hard as she does, Johnson unhesitatingly pointed to both her mother and grandmother.

"My mom is a soldier who works in logistics at Joint Base Lewis-McChord," she began, "and she is very goal oriented," she explained. "Both my mom and grandmother are perfectionists, they are goal-oriented women, and I work as they do."

Before having to depart for a chemistry class, Johnson said the following: "No matter what you do in life, grab on to every opportunity to work at something you like and are happy with."

Carpe diem.