On the sidelines of many Ferndale High School athletics matches, you’ll find FHS senior Belle Santos, ready to assist any student-athlete in pain. Belle – the Kiwanis Student of the Month for March – has been a part of the Sports Medicine club for most of her high school years. She’s even taken part in sports medicine state competitions since her sophomore year.

“I love being a part of the sports medicine program because of the team building,” Belle said. “I’m also gaining more experience, learning what it’s like to be a part of the medical field.”

Belle is also involved with leadership at FHS, helping with events such as homecoming. During the past couple summers, she’s volunteered at city events like Pioneer Days and the city’s Flicks In The Park movie series. In the recent past, Belle has also served as a scorekeeper and game clock operator during FHS basketball games.

Belle said that she was proud of herself during junior year for opting to take more difficult courses in school. These include AP Language and Composition, Medical Terminology, and AP Biology.

“It’s not always about the grades that I’m proud of, but rather the experiences and moral lessons that I learned in the process,” she said.

After graduating this June, Belle plans to go to college with the eventual goal of working in the medical field. At the moment, she’s leaning towards attending Bellevue College to pursue a career in medical imaging.

Belle is interested in a medical career because of its challenging nature and the daily variety on the job.

“I like how every day will be a different experience in terms of diseases or injuries,” she said. “I also love the hands-on experience with medical equipment and learning how to respond to possible specific scenarios that could happen.”

Belle said the most influential person in her life is her grandmother. She always treated people with kindness and lived life with a positive outlook, Belle said.

“When she passed, I promised to myself that I would continue her legacy and live every day with new eyes to see the goodness in every small thing,” Bell said of her grandmother. “I think this is the basic, solid foundation to be successful for any profession and to have a good life.”