Meet Allison Smith, Class of 2019 senior from Morton High School.   She happens to be one of my favorite red heads on the face of the planet!!  Probably because my heart melts into a puddle of happiness every time she is around!  Allison always radiates kindness and positive vibes.  She has a sweetness about her that is hard to describe and she just happens to rock her photos Every.Single.Time!  She’s a beauty through and through!

Allison would describe her personality as reserved if she’s in a situation that she is not comfortable but happy and easily opens up and laughs once she gets to know others.   She has visited numerous colleges so far, but hasn’t quite made a decision where to go yet however UNCW and University of South Carolina are definitely colleges she is considering.  Allison love all things related to the ocean and sea life and plans on majoring in Marine Biology!  A moment she is most proud of is getting picked to go on a research trip with the She’d Aquarium.  During her senior year, the event she is most looking forward to is a trip to Chicago with her older sister to see Dear Evan Hansen through the Peoria Players Theatre. “I have wanted to see the show and love traveling with Megan.”

Allison is a busy girl in school and participates in softball and golf. She is the Vice President of the Circle of Friends and also volunteers and the Peoria Zoo.  She loves going to movies, scuba diving, going to concerts and Broadway shows.   Mr Lynn who taught Honors Biology her freshman year was her favorite high school teacher. “He was fun but also had a real passion for allowing us to learn.”

Three things on her bucket list: 1. Scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef 2. Getting a tattoo 3. Living in a big city.

Here’s how Allison would describe her “perfect” day! “Sleeping in til 9 and eating a light breakfast to start the day. I would wear an oversized sweater with leggings to shop at Goodwill. Then I’d eat at McAllister’s Deli for lunch. Afterwards I go to the movies and see whatever is newly out before coming home to eat dinner. In the evening I would relax at home and read.”

Here are some of Allison’s fun facts and favorites!

Family:

1. My hero is my mom because she works so hard for our family and has such a great personality.
2. My favorite trip was our most recent one to Mexico. It was the first time our whole family left the country together, and I loved getting immersed in the culture and scuba diving.
3. What is your favorite family holiday tradition? Traveling to Iowa to have a huge family Christmas.  Also baking different kinds of sweets for the Christmas season with my mom. We take caramels to the neighbors too which is fun.
4. What is your favorite childhood memory? Going to Ms. Bunny’s in Wisconsin every year with our relatives and some family friends. It was on a lake that we got to do all sorts of activities on and made so many memories.
5. The best thing about my mom is seriously most everything. She and I have such complimentary personalities and get along so well. I love how kind and hardworking she is. I wouldn’t be anywhere without her to push me or pull me back when I spread myself too thin.  The best thing about my dad is his cooking for our family!  He also encourages us to find or own way in the world. He works hard to make sure we all have good lives and can experience everything we can.

 

Food and Style:

1. What’s your favorite family recipe? Swiss Cheese Chicken
2. If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? Chicken parmesean with broccoli and garlic bread
3. What’s your favorite color to wear? Grey or maroon
4. What’s your usual school style? Comfy, yet cute

 

Random:

1. My nickname is Boo
2. I didn’t have my bottom two front teeth until first grade because I fell down the stairs at nine months old and they came out.
3. The most daring thing I have ever done is snorkeled with sharks!
4. The most unusual thing I have ever eaten is frog lets
5. When I was a little girl, I wanted to be a chef
6. If I could travel anywhere in the world, I would travel to Australia to see the Great Barrier Reef. It is such an interesting country and has so much culture to experience.
7. Why did you choose Shelby Photography for your senior portraits?  I loved the images on social media. The flawlessness of them and the unique feel of every senior was very nice.  All the pictures have their personality in them. You can see how happy they are in them and how good they look.