Three minutes with… McKenzie Rose of Echo

Published 3:30 pm Tuesday, January 11, 2022

What do you like best about living in Echo?

It has a peaceful aura, since it’s small and there’s not a lot of traffic, people, etc. that causes busyness. I know my neighbors really well and have created great friendships that probably wouldn’t have lasted in a huge town where people are coming and going all the time. There’s just a strong sense of community and friendliness.

What is your favorite restaurant in the area?

Probably Lawan’s Thai Garden or Veg Out. Their food always tastes fresh and amazing.

What are your hobbies or sports? What do you like about them?

I play soccer, basketball and started golf last year. I enjoy these sports for the life lessons they teach me, exercise they provide and opportunity to give my mind a break. I also like to read, bike, bake occasionally and write poems.

What do you like best about school?

Learning is probably my favorite thing about school, because there are so many interesting things out there. Specifically, my favorite subjects are history, math and science.

What was the last book you have read or movie that you have seen?

The last book I read was “Lincoln: Team of Rivals” by Doris Goodwin. I’m still reading it. It’s taken a while but is very interesting because it offers an insight into Abraham Lincoln and his cabinet members that we don’t cover in our history books.

Who are your role models?

Oh goodness there are many. Some I can think of off the top of my head are: Greta Thunberg, Malala Yousafzai, Megan Rapinoe, Russell Wilson, Taylor Swift and my friends, Sandra and Lily.

What do you like about those people?

I admire the dedication and action that Thunberg, a Swiss environmental activist, puts towards a cause I believe in. Yousafzai is a symbol of standing up for what you believe in, in her case education for women, and is a great example of courage. Rapinoe fights to improve equality for women and is an amazing soccer player. Wilson preaches about how important the mental game is and I love watching how much control over his emotions he practices, even when the game isn’t going his way. Swift’s songs, specifically older ones like “Never Grow Up,” “Our Song” and “Mean,” are filled with great, inspiring and beautiful messages. My friend Sandra is the most positive person I know — I’ve never caught her in a bad mood because she believes it to be a waste of life and energy, and she never tries to pick a fight. Lily is also very positive, kind and dedicated. She’s a great student and successful outside of school too, which I believe is vital to success later in life.

What do you think older people misunderstand about your generation?

Again and again, I hear it all the time — they live on their phones, they don’t know how to use a dictionary, they can only read digital clocks — that our generation is spoiled by technology. While this is true for some kids, it’s way too overgeneralized. It’s super frustrating when the older generations make a comment or roll their eyes when someone pulls out their phone. For all they know, that person might be working on a school essay. Honestly, downloading Google documents is one of the most helpful apps.

When did you start writing for the Hermiston Herald?

I started writing the weekly Hermiston History section for the Hermiston Herald during the late summer of 2021 — around August.

What do you like about looking back at our old stories for the Hermiston History section that you write?

As previously mentioned, I think it’s so fascinating to learn. History is one of those things that you can always learn more about, and it’s been a lot of fun looking through previous Hermiston Herald articles — further than 100 years back. Some of the things that really catch my eye are updates on projects and structures we currently have, like the McNary Dam and Umatilla Depot, stories of this area’s growth, finding names I recognize and learning new things about those people, and the different styles depending on the time — like the recent post-war state of the 1920s and WWII time of the 1940s.