This week’s Farmer Focus is on junior Hannah Tullis, an active member of National Honor Society, Circle of Friends and Student Council.  

SNAPSHOTS

Favorite motto: Don’t judge a book by its cover

Favorite song: “Back to the Shack” by Weezer

Greatest fear: Having bugs crawl into my ears

Favorite book: “The Room” by Emma Donoghue

What animal would represent you? A goat because it’s my astrology sign

ZOOMING IN

Q: What made you want to join Circle of Friends?

A: “I think it’s a really great club that encourages [you] to make friendships with people that you don’t really make friends with. Also, my sister is special needs. You want to support a really great cause.”

Q: What has your experience been like?

A: “You get to meet a lot of good people you get to make bonds with. It’s all around fun; every day is interesting.”

Q: How would you take what you learn in Circle of Friends into the world around you?

A: “Never judge a book by its cover. Just because you see something that’s unusual, it doesn’t mean that the person is weird. They might be weird but in the best way. You meet people with open arms.”

Q: How does Circle of Friends help you?

A: “It helps with interacting with people and helps me with social skills.”

Q: What is the biggest thing that you have had to do in Circle of Friends?

A: “Honestly I’ve learned how to become more close [to those with] special needs and break their barriers because a lot of them are shy and not really comfortable with you, so you have to learn how to make them feel like you really are their friend.”

Q: How do you think that the special needs people feel when they see you encouraging them?

A: “I know from my sister who is 21. When I was in middle school and she was still in her high school career, her favorite thing was seeing people. She would see her friends in the hallway and they would give her hugs and high fives. There was a football player that graduated last year, [and] my sister was friends with him. He would invite her to the tunnel that you go under, and they would cheer her on and say we were going to win even though we always lose. It makes them happy every day.”

Q: Is there any advice that you would give people if they were going to join Circle of Friends?

A: “See, you can join an art club, you can join Student Council, but Circle of Friends is a club that genuinely makes people happy. It is designed to make people happy and it’s not work. It’s not an obstacle. It’s somewhere you can go to relax and make people happy, and who doesn’t want to make people happy?”