Inge Hoogerhuis reached out to the Pigeon Press a few months ago with the idea that we start a new feature where we “ask a student or teacher some cool questions” to spotlight the wonderful community we have at the school. The staff took the idea and ran, coming up with 20 Northwest Academy-style questions. This week we are featuring freshman Tatum Wolfsmith.
1. How did your parents choose your name?
My parents were really set on giving me a non-girly name, and also one that was fairly uncommon, so they settled on the name Tatum. They also liked the meaning “bringer of joy” that is behind the name.
2. What’s the most interesting dream you’ve had?
I once had a dream that my evil twin Mutat came after me, and slowly started replacing me in my life. At the very end of the dream, she pushed me off of a cliff. This was a recurring dream I had for years, but luckily Mutat does not haunt my dreams anymore.
3. Do you think you’re an introvert or an extrovert? Why?
I’m definitely an introvert. Talking to people for a long time is just so draining for me. I still like to be around people, I just want to be around them in silence. I like being alone together.
4. What’s the worst (least effective) way you’ve tried to cope with quarantine?
Dying my hair a lot. As soon as I realized how long quarantine was going to be, I decided to destroy my hair with dye. Fun in the moment, a lot of regrets later.
5. What was your closest call with death?
I have asthma, and about a year ago I had a really bad episode and ended up in the hospital. I most likely wouldn’t have died, but if my parents hadn’t been around, I very well might have.
6. What/who has influenced you the most in your life and why?
Literature has influenced me the most in my life. I learn about a lot of new perspectives and about different topics through reading books. Many books I have read have shaped my view of the world and have helped me understand things I didn’t before. Literature has given me a lot, and I consider it a big part of who I am.
7. What is your dream job?
My dream job is to be a veterinarian or wildlife biologist. I find the behavior of animals fascinating, and I would love to do some sort of research someday about animal behavior. But in general, I would just like to pursue a career in animal science.
8. What is an object you will keep your entire life and why?
Super Pickle. Super Pickle is a stuffed pickle that wears a cap and is a superhero. It was my Mom’s as a kid, and it makes me feel connected to her, and also it is just the coolest thing I have ever possessed.
9. If anything, what about you has changed during your time at NWA?
I have only been at this school for five months, and I don’t think I have really gotten the true NWA experience yet. However, in the time that I have spent at NWA, I think I have been able to express my creativity more, and just express myself more in general.
10. If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
I would want the ability to speak every language in existence. I used to say time travel, but can you think of one book or movie where being able to time travel ended well?
11. If you had to bring one comically large or comically small item to an abandoned island, what would it be and why?
I would bring a very large boat, so I could just sail my way out of there.
12. What’s your worst fear?
Losing control over my own life.
13. What gives your life meaning?
I’m still figuring it out. I also don’t think you need to know what the meaning of your life is to live a meaningful life.
14. If you could have any famous dead person as the president of the USA, who would it be and why?
Ruth Bader Ginsberg. I think she was an amazing person, and she caused a lot of social change throughout her life. I think she would have made an incredible president.
15.With 15 minutes until nuclear annihilation, what snack would you want to be your last?
A soft pretzel. The fluffiness of the pretzel would be the last thing that I would want in my mouth before the end of it all.
16. What’s your biggest kitchen screw-up?
The first time I tried to make bread, I got distracted and the bread started burning but I didn’t realize it until my whole house was filled with smoke. I couldn’t get the smoke alarm to stop blaring, and no one was home so I just started sobbing. Long story short, my brother came home to my sobbing self and he ended up helping me. In the end, all was well, but NEVER get distracted when you are cooking something.
17. What’s the worst injury you’ve had? What happened?
In elementary school, I broke my arm. It’s kind of a sad story, but I was pretty heavily bullied in elementary school, and one day it went a little too far and I ended up with a broken arm.
18. What’s something most people disagree with you about?
Chicago-style pizza is better than New York-style pizza. It just is, no discussion necessary.
19. What’s your favorite type of bad weather and why?
I love the really heavy wind and rain at the beach. When you are outside in it, it just feels like the wind can pick you up and take you away. I love the darkness of a storm at the beach, and how it feels like the whole world is about to swallow you whole. I think it has some sort of twisted beauty to it.
20. What’s the most useless talent you have?
I know a lot of random fun facts. I read a lot of random fact books as a kid, and now those facts are burned into my brain for all eternity.
