Active Wellsville student will pursue medical career as a way of giving back
Isabella Vallera, 18, a senior at Wellsville High School, holds cards used as stage directions from the high school’s recent musical performance of Alice in Wonderland which she performed in. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)
WELLSVILLE — Wellsville High School senior Isabella Vallera, 18, will be heading to Kent State University this fall as a pre-med student. Vallera said she has always loved the brain and the heart and initially thought about becoming a surgeon. But she has also considered being a nurse or a doctor practicing in general medicine.
Medicine was not her first career pick; she was considering a career in forensics until a family member started to suffer with heart problems.
Her love of science is where her original decision to pursue forensics stemmed from, but a desire to go down a path to give back to the people who need it most led her to reconsider and opt for medicine.
“Two years ago, my dad (David) struggled a lot with his own heart issues and seeing him in that state and being around the doctors that saved his life really made me want to be able to give back to other people also,” she said.
During her four years at Wellsville High School, Vallera was active in a variety of clubs and activities including Show Choir for three years and softball — she was a four-year letterman. She has performed in musicals for four years including “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” for which she won the Outstanding Stage Performer and Outstanding Vocalist awards for her role as Veruca Salt. She served as student director for two years and earned the Director’s Award for her leadership and commitment to the show.
She noted out of all the musicals she performed in during her time at Wellsville High School “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” was her favorite. She found playing the role Veruca Salt fun and challenging.
“I think it’s because it’s an opposite personality than what I’m used to, like living as myself versus going on stage and being somebody else,” Vallera said. “I have just always enjoyed it.”
Vallera noted that music is something she has always relied on as a form of self-expression.
“It’s a way for me to express myself when I don’t have words to say,” Vallera said. “I have always been dancing and singing; expressing myself in ways that don’t need words, just sound. I really appreciated that when I was growing up, going through periods of not knowing who I was, it gave me an outlet.”
She has been active in Y-Teens, Spirit Club, Leo Club, Varsity W, and was a member of the National Honor Society for two years and the Honor Roll with a 3.75 GPA for all four years.
She is active in the community, having recently placed flags at the cemetery at the gravesites of veterans for Memorial Day. She attended Buckeye State through the American Legion Auxiliary where she further her education on government. She has assisted the Kiwanis Club with their FamilyFun Days events. She has helped organized blood drives through Y-Teens and made lap blankets for nursing home residents through LEO Club; participated in Operation Shoebox where she sent Christmas gifts to students in third world countries; and, organized spaghetti dinners for choir as a fundraiser and way to give back.
In addition to her music awards, Vallera has also received awards of excellence in multiple subjects –the Junior Girl’s Award for leadership and serving as a role model and the EOAC Scholar Athlete Award.
Vallera, who lives with her mother (Brandee) and father (David), also works two jobs when she is not involved with school or community activities.
In her spare time, she tries to focus on herself with self-care.
“If I don’t give back to myself than what am I? It’s kind of hard to be able to do all these things without taking some time for myself,” Vallera said.
“I am really grateful to have experienced all the things I have experienced throughout my high school career and even before that,” Vallera said. “Just being here at Wellsville has given me everything I have needed to be able to pursue more in my life and hopefully one day give back to my community and I want to thank them for that.”
