Meet the bubbly, sweet, caring, kind, and absolutely beautiful Class of 2021 senior, Emily Mutti from Metamora Township High School.  I knew she was amazing from the start, and this was only re-inforced to me more when I saw her post a personal project on social media during home quarantine. She decided to focus on helping others by making sensory bags for kids with disabilities.  She acquired donations from friends in the community and then used these funds to purchase supplies like play dough, squishy toys, snow globes, bubbles, and watercolor paints.  Emily and her mom even made water bottles with glue and glitter!  These bags were especially helpful for children with autism and she even took it a step further and made special deliveries to family homes!  Emily has a heart of gold and she especially has a heart for individuals with special needs. “My family and sister are very important to me. My sister has autism and my goal in the future is to improve special education to try and fix some of the issues that my sister had to go through.  Emily’s desire to help others will continue after high school, “I plan on attending college to major in either Special Education or Occupational Therapy.”

“This year, I am looking forward to my senior year on dance team. I might try out for cheer this year as well so if I make it, that would be awesome. I am excited for some of the classes I’m taking because they are more specialized for what I want to do in the future. My favorite teacher is my physics teacher because he is very funny and he is invested in the students. My favorite class was my freshman year biology class because it was interesting and challenging.  In school, I participate in Dance Team, Best Buddies, as well as Key Club. I love dancing at basketball games and going to football games. I think school dances are fun but they are a lot of work.”  Outside of school, Emily competes in competitive dance with the Waterstreet Dance Company. “I am a assistant teacher at Waterstreet Dance one night a week.”

Family and Food:

Favorite holiday traditions – We always go to Kansas City to my grandparents house. My whole family already lives there so we all get together at their house and just eat and talk and play games. I don’t think we have ever missed a holiday with them. We typically go to the movies on holiday days because good movies come out those days.

My favorite thing about my mom is her selflessness. She always puts my needs before her own. My favorite thing about my dad is his weird sense of humor. He can be pretty funny sometimes.

My hero is my mom because she is always here for me no matter what. She puts her needs aside for me and I know I am annoying sometimes but she still puts up with me. I don’t think I could have a better mom.

My favorite family trip was a cruise with my whole dads side of the family. We went to Jamaica, Haiti, and the Camen Islands. It was surreal. I had never been out of the country and everything on the ship was so fancy and new to me. I also got to bond with my cousins and it was really a once in a lifetime experience.

Favorite childhood memory – My favorite childhood memory was competitive gymnastics. I made some of my best friends there and we are still in touch. It was super fun but also very intimidating but I will never forget it.

Favorite family recipe – My family makes good peanut butter cookies and those are my absolute favorite cookies so I love them and I love making them.

If I could eat only one meal for the rest of my life, it would be Chick-fil-A nuggets and fries with Chick-fil-A sauce and ranch. Also Mac & Cheese is a must. With a Cherry Coke!

Craziest thing I’ve ever eaten – Shark

Do you have any pets? have two dogs named Murphy and Benji. Murphy is a golden doodle and Benji is a Bichon. I also have two cats. Stormy is a black cat who is deaf and Truman is a 30 pound cat!

Favorite colors – Purple and Yellow.  I love to wear burnt orange because it goes well with my freckles!

Favorite fashion trend – I love the cheetah trend and cute sandals. I also love wearing skirts

Favorite Quote – “No human being can be more human than another human being” Maya Angelou

I love painting by numbers!

Favorite Candy – Skittle sand Milky Way

Three things on my bucket list: Swim with manatees, Make some sort of big change to help people 3. Go to Paris

My “perfect day” would be described like this: I would love to wake up and get ready and dress up. Then I would go get food with my friends and we would go somewhere and have a picnic. Then we would go to the movies or just drive around. I just love being around friends. I would also go to my dance studio on a warm and sunny day and just dance.

“A moment I am most proud of is making competitive dance in eighth grade. I was not confident at all and I was almost positive I wouldn’t make it. When I found out I made it I stopped underestimating myself.”