THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 5, 1995 TAG: 9511030150
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Close Up
SOURCE: Rebecca A. Myers
LENGTH: Long : 106 lines
Jill Bruner has gotten into the habit of keeping a little notebook with her at all times.
That's because the Churchland High School senior has a daily schedule that would put some corporate executives to shame.
Editor-in-chief of the high school yearbook. Varsity cheerleader. Homecoming parade chair. Youth Advisory Commission vice chair. Newspaper correspondent. Varsity baseball scorekeeper. Church soloist.
``A lot of people will say, `Hey, did you see that on TV last night?' '' she said, ``and I'm like, `I don't have time to watch TV!' ''
In addition to her numerous extracurricular activities, Bruner takes three advance placement classes, each 90 minutes long, in English, government and calculus.
Her goal is to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to major in either physical therapy or political science.
``My parents are from North Carolina, so I've visited there a lot because my grandparents still live there,'' she said.
``And I've always thought it was a really pretty campus. I knew it was a good school, and it was kind of one of my goals in life to be able to go to a really great college like that.''
This summer, Bruner worked as a part-time employee in the office of City Clerk Sheila Pittman.
``From the first day of her job, she hit the ground running,'' said Pittman. ``She was self-motivated, required almost no direction from her supervisor and there was no job too large or too small for her.''
Bruner enjoyed working in city government, she said, ``because it was really a different experience'' from her previous jobs in retail sales, baby-sitting and concessions.
``I got to meet a lot of people and do a lot of things I'd never done before,'' said Bruner, who, among other things, helped in the planning of the city's V-J Day ceremony.
In fact, Bruner's short City Hall stint may one day lead to a career in government or maybe even international relations, she said.
``I'm very delighted that she's interested in a career in public service,'' said Pittman. ``She's articulate, she's very compassionate, a real people person. . .
``If she sticks with public service, we will probably be reading about her in the world one day because she's got all the tools.''
As a junior, Bruner placed third in a statewide contest for an essay she wrote on ``The American Flag. . . What It Means To Me.''
In it she wrote: ``To me, the flag exemplifies America as a land of unity, equal opportunity and a place to openly dream the impossible dream.
``Many people, living in countries where freedom can only be secretly dreamed of, see the American flag and think of liberty and independence.
``But many Americans themselves pass the flag by without recognition or reverence. . . ''
Showing respect for her country has always been important to Bruner.
``I've always been kind of turned off by people who take their time standing for the Pledge of Allegiance or who aren't quiet during the national anthem at a basketball game.''
When Bruner returns to her alma mater in 10 years for her class reunion, she hopes to have reached some very specific goals:
``To definitely have a good college education and be established in whatever work field I decide to go into and to really have made a name for myself.''
Then she paused and added: ``And to maybe have a beginning of a family.''
Name: Jill Rena Bruner
Nickname: Jilly
Hometown: Portsmouth
Birthdate: Sept. 18, 1978
School and grade: Churchland High School senior
Parents: Robert and Judy Bruner
Brothers and sisters: None
Pets: None
Favorite subject: Photojournalism
Favorite food: Crab cakes
Favorite restaurant: The Rose Garden Tea Room (now closed, much to my sorrow)
Hobbies: Singing, playing the piano
Favorite movies: ``Crimson Tide'' and ``Under Siege''
Favorite song or musical group: ``I Swear'' and ``American Girl''
Favorite sport: Cheerleading (it is a sport!)
Favorite magazine: Teen
Last book read for fun: ``Spider's Web: The Secret History of How the White House Illegally Armed Iraq''
Favorite TV shows: I never find time to watch TV.
Last smart thing you did: Took a job in the office of the Portsmouth City Clerk and Mayor
Last dumb thing you did: Went to summer school for two years to get ahead. I got the grades, but it lowered my grade point average.
Pet peeve: People letting others' opinions influence their decisions instead of relying on their own opinions
Who are your heroes? Anyone who stands up for what they believe.
Your worst habit: Saying ``yes''
Last vacation: Nags Head
Favorite way to spend a day: A sunny day on the beach with friends
If you had 15 minutes on national television, what would you discuss? What it means to have American pride
When I get older, I want to be: A physical therapist and/or government official (maybe both) ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MARK MITCHELL
by CNB