Meet Camille Calkins! Camille is a senior at Gainesville High School. She plans to attend Wake Forest University in the fall. Her parents are Tom and Maria Calkins. We want to congratulate Camille and her family on her upcoming graduation and best wishes in the future.

Question: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
Answer: “My parents are Tom and Maria Calkins.”

Q: What are your plans after graduation?
A: “I will attend Wake Forest University.”

Q: What are two of your favorite restaurants in our community?
A: “My two favorites would have to be Eat at Thai and Bluefin.”

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
A: “If I could travel anywhere in the world right now, I would go to Italy. It’s a beautiful country filled with such amazing culture. Plus I love Italian food!”

Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
A: “One of my favorite movies is, ‘Remember the Titans,’ and one of my favorite TV shows is, ‘Outer Banks.'”

Q: If you were asked to give advice to your senior class and the younger students at your school, what would you say?
A: “Don’t take anything for granted! It can all be gone in the blink of an eye, so make the most out of every experience.”

Q: If you were able to be cast as yourself into a television show or series, what show would you want to be in?
A: “I would cast myself in the show ‘Parks and Recreation.’ I mean who wouldn’t want to joke around with some of the funniest people in Hollywood all day?”

Q: If you could choose anyone to have lunch with, who would you choose? Why? And where, locally, would you meet for this lunch?
A: “I would have lunch with Greta Thunberg because she is such an inspiration to young people today. I would take her to Longstreet because it is such a quintessential Gainesville restaurant.”

Q: What is your favorite thing about our community?
A: “I love that you can’t walk into the grocery store without running into someone you know.”

Q: Where do you see yourself in five to 10 years?
A: “It’s hard to say. Probably graduate school. I know that in five to 10 years I will be helping people. Hopefully, that will be by working at either a nonprofit organization or a for profit with a good cause.”

Q: What is something on your bucket list?
A: “Traveling all around the world.”

Q: What is your go to band / singer when you cant decide what to listen to?
A: “Definitely Billie Eilish!”

Q: Favorite month? favorite holiday? and best single day on the calendar?
A: “My favorite month is May because the weather is usually perfect! My favorite holiday is Christmas because I get to see my whole family. The best single day on the calendar is April 25 because it’s not too hot and not too cold. All you need is a light jacket.”

Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
A: “My dad’s pancakes. You can’t beat em’.”

Q: What is something you want to do as soon as the pandemic is over?
A: “I want to graduate! Unfortunately, our graduation ceremony has been postponed indefinitely because of the pandemic. I can’t wait to walk across the stage to get my diploma and watch my friends do the same! It’s such an important milestone that we took for granted before COVID-19.”

Q: Who inspires you to be better?
A: “My parents. They taught me the importance of giving back to my community. They have always given back to our community in anyway they could. They showed me that you don’t have to give back through huge gestures, the smallest actions are helpful!”