Senior Standouts

Standouts

Isabella O’Neill is very pleased to be a member of Culbertson High School’s senior class.

She attended the Montana School for the Deaf and Blind in Great Falls during 2011-2015, but she wanted to return to this area to be with her family and friends.

“Being away from home and everybody was hard,” O’Neill said. “I was missing out of a lot of experiences that other kids have.”

She also appreciates the kindness of the people in northeastern Montana.

“I probably have one of the most unique childhoods,” she said. O’Neill noted that in bigger cities, people don’t always know their neighbors. “Here, it’s a given. I don’t have a choice.”

O’Neill really enjoys being part of the school’s choir.

“It’s one of my favorite classes,” she said.

She thanks teacher Janelle Ator for playing a big role in her education.

“She has done a lot for me throughout the years,” O’Neill said.

O’Neill says her favorite teacher is Mary Machart.

“She’s always really nice,” O’Neill said. “Walking into her classroom gives me energy.”

After school, she works in the activities area at the nursing home.

“I like to think my job is to keep the residents busy during the pandemic,” O’Neill said.

She especially enjoys celebrating holidays and having party socials with the residents.

Her career goal is to become a mortician.

“I don’t know of any other visually impaired morticians,” O’Neill said. “I would be the first one that I know of.”

She got interested in the career after listing to a program about the occupation.

“I like the idea of taking care of people and bringing closure to the families,” she said.