Profile: Isabel Elherman

By: Maris Toalson

For Isabel Elherman, the rainy, green landscape of Portland, Oregon is a stark change from her previous home in the arid desert of Tucson, Arizona. Isabel, also known as Belle, is a new student and senior at Lincoln High School. Belle moved to Portland from Tucson over the summer, and her transition has been going well thus far.

“As soon as I came here, I found my people,” she says, “There are so many types of people here that you can’t really stand out because there’s always somewhere to fit in.”

According to Elherman, Lincoln is different than her old school because it is smaller and more personal. Students and teachers at Lincoln have been especially welcoming and aided her transition.

“Everybody’s so helpful and kind,” she states, “The teachers here care. They want you to voice your opinion, and they want you to challenge the information you’re learning.”

Belle is making the most of her senior year and has become involved in Lincoln’s community by joining clubs.

“There’s more opportunities to do stuff that I genuinely care about,” she says.

And while she’s enjoying her last year of high school, she’s looking forward to what comes after.

“Getting into the college that I want to go to. That’s what I’m looking forward to,” she states.

Currently, Belle is interested in the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington. She hopes to study psychology, potentially along with photography and Spanish.

“I plan on staying in school for as long as I can because education is very important in this world,” she says, “There’s just so many things we need to learn about right now and be aware of.”

In a parting piece of advice to other new Lincoln students, Belle states, “Talk to other new people because they’re going through the same thing as you, so they will be a good resource. Also, don’t be afraid to talk to the existing Lincoln students because they are going to help you.”