High school is often seen as a time for figuring out who you are, through moments that help you grow, and experiences that leave a lasting impact. For senior Carly Evans, these four years have been exactly that. Her high school journey has been all about building confidence, finding a community, and discovering her voice both through her writing and behind the microphone.
Outside of school, Carly has a lot of commitments. She works at a new and local 7Brew coffee shop, a job that keeps her busy and interacting with members of the Frederick community. When she’s not serving up coffee (or energy drinks), you can find her spending time with friends and family. Much of her world is also centered around her faith. Carly is an active member of Rocky Mountain Christian Church and sometimes attends Flatirons as well.
Like Carly’s life outside of school, inside of school is very similar. She seems to always be busy. She credits several teachers with having a big impact on her high school years. Mr. Wellington was one of them. Carly said, “Genuinely, he is an incredible teacher. He has a calming presence that is instilled throughout every single class period, yet [he has] the most engaging narrator voice at the same time.” Dr. Vail also made a lasting impression, not by making math easier, but by making Carly feel capable even in a subject she didn’t consider her strength.
But the teacher who shaped her journey the most is the Golden Eagle Broadcasting Network’s adviser Mr. Jacob Marsing. “The Golden Eagle Broadcast Network wouldn’t have the same impact if it didn’t have Jacob Marsing at the helm,” Carly said. It was Marsing who encouraged her to step into broadcasting her freshman year, and it was Marsing who helped her grow into the confident leader she is today.
Carly was involved in GEBN, a program that has become far more than just another class. She also participates in National Honor Society, Quill & Scroll, and the Student Advisory Council alongside seniors Evan Q and Ava Reed.
We’d also be remiss to not mention that she’s the current managing editor of The Lantern, where she edits articles, oversees staff assignments, and heads up our multimedia projects.
Still, GEBN remains the heart of her high school experience. It’s where she found her voice, her leadership, and her confidence, things she never would have discovered if she hadn’t taken that first step into the program.
It’s that very lesson of pushing through fear that Carly wishes her freshman self had understood. “Involvement is far from being as scary as freshmen make it out to be,” she said. She believes involvement is what builds community, expands your network, and pushes you to grow. Her own experience proves that point. The friendships and connections she built through her activities ultimately contributed to something she once only dreamed of being crowned homecoming queen her senior year.
Among her many memories, one stands out above the rest. During her freshman year, Carly and fellow broadcaster Dante Lechuga were assigned to call the Frederick vs. Mead rivalry football game. Nervous and bundled against the freezing wind on top of the press box, they waited as Frederick attempted a last-minute two-point conversion. When the Eagles succeeded, the two erupted with excitement. “It felt like Frederick had come together as a collective,” she recalled. “Like our community was whole again.” It’s a moment she says she’ll never forget.
When it comes to influences, Carly points first to her parents. Her mom has taught her patience and kindness, while her dad has shown her the importance of determination and faith. Together, she says, they have shaped everything she has achieved.
After graduation, Carly plans to attend a four-year university, where she will most likely attend CU to study communications and journalism, with a possible minor in political science. Long term, she dreams of becoming a professional broadcaster, perhaps even working an NFL or ESPN broadcast alongside her role model, Erin Andrews.
She also hopes to publish books someday, sharing her passion for storytelling and inspiring young writers to find their own love for words.
A fun fact about Carly is she is an avid reader and gamer. She typically reads 50–60 books a year and is currently making her way through Game of Thrones and The Way of Kings.
Her favorite genre is reflective of her creative aspirations for writing—fantasy. Carly thoroughly enjoys festering over fantasy storylines and finds her own passion in customizing her own world. She’s been writing small stories since elementary school, which has given her plenty of time to explore a plethora of storyline ideas.
As she steps into the next chapter of her life, she’s nervous for what’s to come, but also she does so with excitement. “I’ve always heard that there is a certain freedom that comes with college, and I can’t wait to build my own pathway from that point.” Carly said. She’s ready to write her next story, one she’s already well prepared to tell.
