Photos courtesy of KD Photography
Leah Ortman is a girl with a plan. Whether it’s tackling her education head-on, helping out at her church, volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House or just making time to hang out with her friends, Ortman is ready to hit the ground running.
Though she’s only a junior at Central Crossing High School, Ortman is already taking full-time college courses at Columbus State Community College through the school’s Accelerated Learning Center. By the time she graduates high school, she will have received an associate’s degree in science to put toward her next steps in higher education.
While this may seem intense for a 16-year-old, Ortman isn’t daunted by the prospect of higher-level college courses.
“I like that they’re more challenging and fast-paced,” she says. “And, people take it more seriously. They really want to be there.”
With a 4.37 GPA, Ortman is ranked No. 5 in her class of over 400 students and is a member of the National Honor Society. And if that’s not enough, the energetic teen also works for local, family-owned OH-YO! Frozen Yogurt, pursues hobbies such as photography and piano, and is active in her church. The activity she finds the most rewarding, though, is offering her time and service to others.
Fun fact: Leah Ortman has memorized the periodic table. She can sing the periodic table song and says that learning it was one of the highlights of her school life.
Having logged more than 120 hours of service before she was 15, finding ways to help others is one of Ortman’s greatest motivators. She regularly steps up to help in her church and at school when opportunities arise, and has also volunteered with the Ronald McDonald House and Columbus Recreation and Parks. After graduation, she hopes to spend a year abroad doing volunteer work through her church – ideally in a country where she can practice her Spanish language skills.
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“Service makes your life more meaningful,” she says. “There’s a lot of bad in the world, and a lot of good. Being a part of the good and recognizing it when it happens makes you feel good.”
Her love of helping others and working with children and families has deeply impacted her plans for the future. After graduating, Ortman hopes to attend the Utah-based Brigham Young University and major in nursing with a focus on labor and delivery. Though nervous about the prospect of having to leave most of her family behind in Ohio, she has fully embraced the idea of the independent adult life, ready to see the world and face it on her own terms.
“I’ve always wanted to grow up,” she says. “I’m ready to get out there and take control of my life.”
Taylor Woodhouse is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at feedback@cityscenemediagroup.com.
