Natalie Gibbs | Class of 2020 senior pictures Pekin Community High School

I’d love to introduce one of the sweetest, smartest, most talented, prettiest, bubbly, fun-loving, Class of 2020 seniors, Natalie Gibbs from Pekin Community High School!  This girl has a giant, amazing future ahead!!

Natalie would describe herself as CRAZY around her close friends and family but “normal” around those she doesn’t know quite as well, LOL!  “I am a very organized person, perhaps a perfectionist would probably be a better word for it. I always have my days and weeks scheduled out either in a planner or on my phone.  I could be described as both an introvert and an extrovert.  I love to hang out with my friends but also make new friends, but I also love my alone time and just being by myself!”

In school, Natalie participates in cheer and orchestra.  She has been playing the violin since age 5!!   In fact one of her most vivid childhood memories wold be the time when she picked out her first violin. “I got a super tiny violin, brought it to my grandparents house, took it out of the case, and just started “playing”. It sounded horrible at the time, but I was just so excited to play for my grandma and grandpa! It was such a sweet, and funny memory!”  BTW, as a senior photographer, watching Natalie play was mesmerizing and capturing this beautiful girl playing the violin was one of the most fun experiences that I’ve ever had photographing a senior!!

“I love to go to the basketball games! I’m a cheerleader, so I go to every home basketball game, which is even better! I just love the environment at basketball games. Everyone is together with their friends and family, cheering on the Dragons! After the games, I usually go out to eat with some friends to end the night on a great note, no matter if we won or lost the game!”

After high school, Natalie plans on attending Augustana College and then transferring to Illinois College of Optometry. When she was a little girl, she always changed her mind about what her future career might be. She dreamed about being everything from a teacher, to a dr. to a photographer!  She is most looking forward to graduation.  “People always tell me not to rush high school because they’re the best years of your life, but I am just ready for college! I have worked so hard throughout all of my years of school, and I am ready for a new, different challenge that awaits.”  Natalie’s favorite teacher throughout all of the years of school was her 7th grade math teacher, Mrs. Harris. ” I felt like she could’ve been my second mom! Everyday she would always ask me how I was doing, and she genuinely cared about me! She was a great teacher, but an even better person! She was also so funny! She was a very extroverted person, and she helped me break out of my shell that I used to have in junior high! I remember one day in class she put on music and we had a dance party! She will forever be a role model to me.”

Anatomy and Physiology has been her favorite class. She would look forward to this class every sing day during her junior year. “It was a challenging class, but it was also so fascinating! I loved learning about all of the muscles, systems, bones, and MUCH more of the human body! My favorite part of this class was when we got to dissect cats. I know, it sounds disgusting and sad, which it was  but it was such a cool and different experience!”

Work, Hobbies, and Volunteering:

“I currently work at the Pekin Country Club for the summer. I work the concessions! I also volunteer at Harvest Bible Chapel during their Vacation Bible School! Although I don’t anymore, I used to participate in All-Star cheerleading! I was involved in the all star program for 7 years!  I love to going on bike rides with my brother and binge watching Netflix shows.”

Three things on my bucket list: 1. Travel to another country, Europe preferably!  2. Skydive. (I know it would be scary but thrilling!) 3. Visit every state in the US

Family:

My hero is my dad because he is such a hard worker. Whenever we need anything fixed, or made for my mom and I… he’s always there with a smile on his face. He taught me how to fish, to hunt, drive a car, and he even taught me how to drive his boat!  He’s also a pro at grilling, so I always enjoy the food he makes, especially his salmon!  My dad is such a humble and loving person, and he will forever be a role model to me and my hero. My mom is the strongest woman I know. She is the type of person who doesn’t care what people think of her, and is just her true self. She is so funny and outgoing. I want to be just like her when I grow up.  My dad has such a kind heart, and I know she wants the best for everyone. My mother is so selfless. She does so much for my brother and I, and I sometimes think she forgets to think about herself! She has so much love for my brother and I, and I will forever love her too. She will be my forever best friend, just like my grandma and her were. I love you so much mom.

My favorite trip was to Colorado because it was beautiful!! We stayed in a cabin that was way up in the mountains and when you looked out on the deck, Pikes Peak was straight across from us! Also, we went white water rafting, and it was a blast!

Sports:

“My favorite sport to watch is definitely baseball! I love going to Cubs games with my parents and my brother! It’s always such a fun time and I always love the ballpark food! Go Cubs!
My favorite sport to play would probably be volleyball! I only played for one year in junior high, and I’ll admit I’m not the best at it, but during the summer, my family and I go camping and we always play volleyball on the beach volleyball courts which is always super fun!”

FUN FACTS and FAVORITES:

1. Who is your favorite singer and/or band or song? I love BTS!! They are a k-pop group from Korea and are amazing!! I love all different groups like NCT 127, Pentagon, Got7, TXT, iKON, and many more groups!!! They are so fun to watch because they sing very well, but they also dance so well! It’s so entertaining to watch!
2. What advice would you give incoming high school freshman? The advice I would give to incoming freshman is to go to as many school events as possible! Football and basketball games are so much fun so try and go to as many as you can! I would also say to make sure to stay on top of your homework! It may get pretty hard sometimes, especially if you are taking AP classes, but the hard work will definitely pay off in the long run!
3. What’s your favorite family recipe? My mom makes the best enchiladas! I used to always ask her to make them for me on “special” occasions!!
4. If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? Steak (cooked medium!) and shrimp!!
5. Do you have a nickname? Some of my friends call me Nat, and my family calls me sis!
6. Why did you choose Shelby Photography for your senior portraits photographer? A lot of my friends from cheer were getting their pictures done by Shelby Photographer and I would always see their pictures on Instagram! I would always show my mom the pictures and I finally convinced my mom to get my pictures done with Cindy after probably showing her hundreds of pictures on instagram!! The pictures are always so high quality and so colorful! The locations that Cindy chooses are also super unique and pretty!