Graduate Brittany Jokela seized opportunities at Seacrest Country Day School
Editor’s note: This is one in a series of Naples Daily News stories on Graduates of Distinction, who are selected by staff at the high school.
Seacrest Country Day School senior Brittany Jokela described herself in one word — involved.
“I’m a person who loves being in charge of things and helping everyone,” Jokela said. “I have to be in three places at once.”
Throughout high school, Jokela played a leading role in many clubs and activities. She was Key Club vice president, Math Honor Society vice president, Science National Honor Society treasurer and student ambassador vice president.
But her favorite role was president of the Student Government Association because it gave her opportunities to plan events such as homecoming, a masquerade-themed prom on the Naples Princess cruise and Trunk or Treat on Halloween.
Trunk or Treat is an event where the theater department puts on a haunted house and has candy and games. Her voice picked up as she described her role in making the event special.
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“We made it at least twice the size it ever has been this year,” she said. "We had a bounce house and a ton of activities. The parents said it was the new precedent for how Trunk or Treat should be run."
To add to Jokela's long list of high school roles, she also choreographed two musicals for the school theater — a cabaret-style production for her junior year and "The Addams Family" for her senior year. She dances competitively; her 15 years of experience in ballet, jazz, contemporary and tap made her valuable to the production.
Jokela has been attending Seacrest Country Day School in East Naples since kindergarten and described the community as "tight-knit." She has grown up with most of the same people her entire life, and they have always been there to support her.
“The value comes from the relationships that you can make here,” she said.
Howard Schott, head of upper school at Seacrest, is a man whose role as Jokela's literature teacher turned into a valuable mentorship. While teaching her in 10th and 11th grades, he helped her work toward her goals and projects.
“I think that she has a real desire to make a difference and an impact, and that has been true since the moment I met her,” Schott said. "I think it comes from her empathy, where she is always focused on the good of the group."
Schott has absolute confidence that Jokela's work ethic through high school will continue into her adult life.
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“I think she is completely prepared for the future," Schott said. "Again, it comes back to her empathy — her interest in others.
"And it’s exciting for me to see her go off to a big city that has a lot of diversity, where she will meet all kinds of interesting people from different parts of the world and different parts of the country.
"Because she’s so curious, meeting those people will only strengthen her understanding of the world and her understanding of places where she can be of help.”
Jokela received a scholarship from the Florida Realtors Association, is graduating with a GPA of 4.43 and plans to attend Boston College in the fall. She plans to go into the School of Management to learn about business.
“So, the whole small business aspect has been in my life for forever,” she said. “I’ve just grown to love it because I’m also an independent person. Being able to be my own boss is something that’s important to me.”
Along with the promise of independence, watching her parents work as a real estate agent and a real estate photographer inspired her to choose business studies.
“I guess I’ve learned what the real world is like,” Jokela said. "My parents don’t just come home with a paycheck, but I get to hear about all aspects of how their business is run, and struggles and triumphs."
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One of her greatest obstacles while attending high school was her tendency to overbook herself.
“I can easily over-involve myself,” Jokela said. “I’m pretty responsible for myself, but I tend to also feel responsible for others. I love seeing others being able to thrive and being able to help with others’ success.”
Throughout her high school experiences, she learned the most valuable character traits are compassion and patience, she said. She plans to carry her life lessons into her future.
“We are in a time when everyone is pretty on edge," Jokela said. "When we display some compassion and patience, it helps us come to a common ground, and you can get along with pretty much everyone if you know how to show that you care.”