Read all about what's happening in the lives of people you may not realize you know! Test the possibility of the Six Degrees of Separation concept.
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Is The World Really That Small?
Six degrees of separation refers to the idea that, if a person
is one "step" away from each person he or she knows and two "steps" away
from each person who is known by one of the people he or she knows, then
everyone is no more than six "steps" away from each person on Earth.
Hence, six degrees of separation is somewhat synonymous with the idea of
the "small world" phenomenon. (Wikipedia)
Know Someone Special?
Let me know about someone you would like to put
the spotlight on. Honor them here for something they have achieved, or
accomplished, either for themselves or for others.
Email Me
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Taylor Hodgkins
In The Spotlight this month, she is someone to be watched over the
next few years. We are all counting on Taylor and other young people
like her. From all indications, she's off to a running start, ready to
take on the world. This country will be in good hands under this young
lady's watch. Remember the name, Taylor Hodgkins.
Taylor, an only child,
loves her three cats,
Izzy, Gunther, and Rose.
Taylor with Rose, so named for the character in Titanic.
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More about this spotlighted teenager, in her very own words:
My hobbies include listening to music,
going to antique shops, reading and writing. I love collecting old
records and magazines. I have entertainment magazines that range
from the 60s to the 90s. I also collect 45's and Atari
cartridges. I have a blog on
My Space and I like to
blog about various things. I enjoy visiting record
stores with my dad on weekends.
Taylor also likes to display her doll collection.
"I've collected
dolls since I was about ten," she says. "Some of my favorites are my
two sets of Spice Girls dolls which includes nine dolls." Taylor also has
a Lucille Ball doll, a Rose
doll from "Titantic", and a Cruella DeVille doll from "101
Dalmatians".
July 2007
TAYLOR HODGKINS
This award winning, all-around accomplished, aspiring photo-journalist, avid reader, cat loving, pop culture historian, and Tennessee tuba player is one outstanding teenager.
Metro Nashville Public Schools Band Camper
of the Week, 2007
Taylor was chosen by seven judges
from all of Metro's middle schools for the above
award. The winning camper went above and beyond the call of duty,
giving up breaks so she could learn more music. Her excellence in
attitude, hard work, and musical aptitude garnered Taylor the prize.
Taylor's parents chose Croft Middle School for its strong band program, and it is the only middle school in the State that has a full orchestra. James and Adonia Hodgkins couldn't be more pleased with their daughter's achievements.
Taylor says, "I have been in band since 5th Grade." She goes on to explain about the school she attends. "Croft Middle School is a Design Center focusing on the environment and the well-being of animals. It is a magnet school and is located adjacent to the Nashville Zoo, where 5th and 6th graders participate in taking care of the animals.
"I am going into the 8th grade which is the last year of Croft and then I will be going to Overton High School where both my parents graduated. My dad was a tuba player at Overton and I will carry on that tradition."
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Taylor has a mind of her own with definite opinions about
a lot of things, in particular some of today's pop culture icons.
Her hero is Chrissie Hynde, lead singer of The Pretenders. "She paved
the way for women rockers everywhere and she isn't in the business for
looks, she is in it for the music," Taylor explains, adding, "She just
rocks!"
Taylor thinks
Brooke Shields was a much better role model for girls than the Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohans
and Paris Hiltons of today.
"And Princess Diana," Taylor adds, "I really admired her for tolerating Charles and all
that kingdom crap."
Taylor leaves no doubt about the way she feels about Miley Cyrus. "I can't STAND that chick!"
the thirteen-year-old remarks.
Noteworthy
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Taylor's awards and
accomplishments are varied and representative of all the things that
interest the young Nashville, Tennessee native.
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She won the first place award for writing Notice Me, "a song about treating people who have disabilities the same way we treat everyone else. I was in the 4th Grade," she says, "and the year was 2004."
In 2006, as a 6th grader, Taylor won Third Place in the Writer’s Showcase for Gossip Girl for the Younger Audience: A book review of The Clique by Lisi Harrison. Taylor says, "I got paid for that!"
Taylor's paper entitled December 8, 1980, about the night John Lennon was killed, earned her the 2006
National History Day Projects Award.
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Tayz Favz
Favorite TV shows include American Idol, Gilmore Girls, Square Pegs, The Facts of Life, Full House, Spongebob Square Pants, Family Ties, The Simpsons, and The Young Ones.
Favorite music genre is New Wave. Favorite group is
Elvis Costello and the Attractions. Favorite song is
Swing Your Arms Around by Practical Stylists.
Taylor has seen the
movie
101 Dalmatians more than 300 times.
Favorite colors are lime green and black.
Favorite authors are Meg Cabot, Judy Blume and Anita Stubbs.* All-time favorite book is Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume.
* smart girl
The tuba Taylor plays.
Taylor's room is a gallery of pop culture memorabilia and an
ever-growing music collection. She is currently toying with the idea of
collecting vintage Pepsi cans.