ACCOMPLISHED TEEN. Rachel Seeman (bottom row, center) is Grant High School’s 2009 Rose Festival representative. Pictured (clockwise from top left) are Rachel’s grandfather Bill Matsuda, brother Ross, father Dan, grandmother Fern Matsuda, and mother Tosh. (Photo courtesy of the Seeman family)

From The Asian Reporter, V19, #19 (May 19, 2009), page 16.

By Julie Stegeman

One of only three high school juniors in this year’s Portland Rose Festival Court, Rachel Seeman has been selected as Grant High School’s ambassador. She was born in Portland to Dan and Tosh Seeman and is the older sister of Ross, who also attends Grant.

Rachel’s desire to be a member of the Rose Festival Court came early in her life, watching older neighbors honored by representing their school. "We’ve had quite a few princesses in our neighborhood," she said. "They truly have been my role models, motivating me to volunteer and to do my best."

Rachel is part of Grant High School’s Japanese magnet program and is fluent in Japanese, which she speaks with her grandmother. Among her many school activities are serving as class president during her sophomore and junior years, membership in the National Honor Society, and participating on Grant’s swim team and cross-country team. She is currently running for student body president.

One of Rachel’s interests is learning about cultures — her own and others. She is a member of Youth Empowering Anti-Hate, a group that brings together young people from diverse backgrounds and religions. "We talk about our differences, but also how we’re all alike," she said. "That youth group has taught me a lot about different cultures as a whole, and how we’re all human."

Being a part of the Japanese magnet program has enabled Rachel to travel to Japan twice, once in the fifth grade and once in the eighth. She found the Japanese people to be "kind, helpful, and polite." She experienced this helpfulness firsthand, when on her first trip to Japan she was inadvertently separated from her mother on a train trip. The friendly people on the train helped calm the 11-year-old girl and made certain she was safely reunited with her mother. "It really is a great country and I’m very proud to be Japanese," she said.

Bill Matsuda, her grandfather, is one of the people Rachel most admires. He served in the U.S. Air Force during World War II, despite having family in internment camps. When his family returned to their hops farm in Independence, Oregon after the war was over, they found it destroyed. Rachel is inspired by his example of resilience. "I respect him so much," she said. "The one thing he’s taught me is how it’s important to forgive, not to forget, but just to forgive; to take the experience and obstacles you’ve overcome and make yourself a stronger person."

Her interest in her Japanese heritage has led her to become active in Unite People, the youth group of the Japanese American Citizens League. The group studies the civil rights of Japanese Americans, learns about ancestors, and promotes volunteerism.

She is also a volunteer at Portland Providence Hospital, where she has worked in the maternity ward since July. Her duties include stocking rooms, folding tiny baby shirts, and discharging moms and new babies to their cars when they are allowed to go home. "I’m really grateful to be in such a joyous place," she said. She enjoys working at the hospital, which places an emphasis on treating everyone equally. "I feel very comfortable there and I think that’s the kind of atmosphere I want to work in as an adult."

Although college is still more than a year away for this junior, she is very interested in pursuing a career in the medical field, possibly in family practice or pediatrics, which would combine her love of children and biology with her desire to help people.

When she is not busy with school or her other activities, Rachel enjoys running, baking, attending school sporting events, and walking her golden retriever, Kuma (the Japanese word for "bear").

Rose Festival princesses represent their school and act as the "face of the Rose Festival" at many community events, including parades, volunteer activities, luncheons with community and business leaders, and more. The Portland Rose Festival Foundation awards each court member a $3,500 scholarship, courtesy of The Randall Group.

To qualify for the Rose Festival Court, candidates must be a full-time junior or senior at a 5A or 6A high school in Multnomah, Washington, or Clackamas county and have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0. Potential princesses are evaluated on leadership and scholastic achievement, school activities, civic involvement, volunteer projects, communication skills, and overall impression.

The Portland Rose Festival Queen is chosen from all of the court members at Portland’s Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, June 6 at 8:30am. To learn more, call (503) 227-2681 or visit <www.rosefestival.org>.