Meet Elivia Goodin: Spotlight Editor

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, students and faculty, I am honored to introduce the water-loving, Spanish-speaking, first-time clay staff member, Spotlight Editor, 17-year-old Elivia Goodin! A five-year TPS veteran, Livie has survived, no, conquered countless online classes. How has she survived this long, one might ask. Her personal formula is to begin the day with a cup of her favorite drink ever, water. After that, she does homework and classes, takes a break for lunch, does more schoolwork, works out, and then, depending on her workload, either does more schoolwork or decides to finish for the day. It seems simple enough. Among the numerous subjects she has studied, Livie’s favorite is Spanish, her most fruitful class by far. She has taken a total of five years of TPS Spanish, with this year being her sixth and last. 

Even though learning Spanish might be just a hobby for some, for Livie, Spanish is a way for her to connect with the many Spanish speakers in her church. Not only that, but she has also used her Spanish for mission trips to Mexico. 

This newest editor certainly enjoys traveling, although she would not necessarily describe it as her passion. One of her goals is to visit all fifty states because of the uniqueness each state has to offer. In fact, she has already made it to twenty-two! Not only does she want to travel the States, but she has always wanted to visit Europe, specifically Italy and Spain; Italy for the sightseeing and food, and Spain for her love of Spanish and the culture surrounding the language.

Despite her fascination with exploration, her favorite place on Earth is her home in Indiana, her home state since birth. At home, she enjoys exercise, which can take the form of home workouts, walks with her mom, or runs with her sister-in-law. She also loves to cook and bake for her family, composed of five older siblings and two Goldendoodles (Grant and Winston), anything from her famous garlic parmesan chicken to her successful chocolate macaroons. 

In the future, Livie sees herself graduating from Indiana University with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education and a minor in Spanish. With these, she hopes to become an English and Spanish teacher! She is considering teaching at a private school, but someday she wants to be a wife and mother. In her own words though, “I want God’s plan for my life more than anything though, so whatever He calls me to do I will do!”

Please welcome Livie Goodin, who seeks to bring the perspective of giving it all for the Lord during her year at clay. Through her hard, and sometimes invisible, work, she hopes to do everything to glorify God. In past years and in this year to come, she models the quote, “Your dreams don’t work unless you do.”

Photo Credit: Elivia Goodin