Even though seventeen-year-old Juliana Cathryn Hodges does not consider herself a “people person,” she will gladly walk up to a complete stranger just to get to know them. This summer while on vacation with her family, she saw an older man sitting by himself. She walked up to him and started a conversation. He told her he was a veteran and continued to tell her his story. It was an eye-opening experience for her and she states, “I recommend following your instincts-walk up to someone, compliment them, or just have a friendly conversation to get to know them.” This story is just a glimpse of the wonderful person that she is.
Juliana, who is commonly referred to as Julie by her family and friends, is the daughter of Brad and Michele Hodges. She has two sisters, Amanda and Brooklyn, and two brothers, Jarred and Caleb. You can’t forget about her “fur babies,” Taz, Laisey, and Stella, who mean the world to her. When asked who has been the most influential person in her life, it is hard for her to choose among her many role models. But, it is a tough tie between her dad and her sisters. According to Juliana, “They are the strongest people I know and they are always pushing me to be better.”
Having three jobs just shows how motivated and hardworking Juliana is. During the year, you can find her mowing lawns, lifeguarding, and umping softball games. Along with her occupations, Julie stays involved in a variety of activities including softball, basketball, track, and church youth group throughout high school. Her faith is very important to her. In fact, it is the one item she could not live without; God helps her through everything.
This year has been nothing short of unusual, Julie describes her past year as a China Moon buffet- sometimes it hurts your stomach, but it is usually delicious. Her favorite food is Chinese, aside from Pizza Hut’s Creamy Chicken Alfredo pasta. She proudly states that she has watched almost every single movie on Disney+, loves to watch Friends, and Grey’s Anatomy, and is also afraid of spiders. A fun fact about Julie is that she is a “Valentine’s Day baby,” which explains her big heart. Her advice to underclassmen, “Love everyone, you never know what others are going through.”
When asked about her future, she sees herself pursuing a career in the medical field and attending either USD or STI. In ten years she hopes to be graduated from college, married to her “person,” with four dogs, one cat, and a bird because having a bird has always been a dream of hers. She sees herself sticking around South Dakota and living in a small town. Juliana strives to be successful and independent, and with her determined spirit, her opportunities are endless and her future is bright.