R-JENERATION: Foothill senior excels at band, choir

Through religion Brittney Stradling finds that all things are possible.

“My religion defines me, my values, my family and my heritage. It is an everyday part of living,” the Foothill High School senior says.

Every morning she is up and ready for seminary, she reads her Scriptures with her family at 5:20 a.m., and makes sure to apply those teachings to her daily activities.

She says she doesn’t know where she would be if she wasn’t a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

“Without my religion, my family and my friends that help uphold my standards, it would be hard,” Stradling says.

Stradling has been in band at Foothill for four years. She says each challenging hour and practice has helped her become a disciplined and respectful drum major.

Not only is she a drum major, but she is also president of the National Honor Society and president of the choir department.

“I hope that everything I am doing now can help me better prepare to be a better person later in my life,” Stradling says. “I am striving to do the best I can, to be an example of the believers, and a standard to the nations.”

Foothill junior Jordan Nilson, a current band student, calls Stradling a positive influence.

“Brittney is one of the most kind drum majors I have ever had the pleasure of depending on during a show,” he says. “She is a very kind and welcoming person on and off the field.”

Despite all her activities, Stradling makes time for community service, which is what drove her to join the National Honor Society.

“The best thing about National Honor Society is that it has turned into a really large program and that we all work together to do great things for others,” Stradling says.

Each quarter Stradling spends 14 hours doing community service with the rest of the club. As president, she organizes club activities, keeps track of the students’ hours and leads the meetings.

Stradling, who began singing in grade school, also leads Foothill’s choir department. Stradling’s mother, DeAnn Stradling, says her daughter was always drawn to music.

“When she was little, she would play with her stuffed animals. And instead of them talking to each other, they would have a sing-song conversation,” her mom recalls.

Isabel Thayer, a Foothill senior, says Stradling does a lot to help the choir.

“Unfortunately, many people don’t realize all the work she does,” Thayer says. “She leads Chamber Singers during the day, but also does a lot of behind the scenes work to help out that mostly goes unnoticed.”

Others have noticed Stradling’s efforts.

“She has definitely made an impact on the band, by always conducting,” Foothill senior Brenna Russel says. “Everything she does is in a fair, positive and rational manner.”