Junior Carley Portie is involved in a wide variety of extracurriculars, including Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, UIL Academics, powerlifting, and National Honor Society. Her favorite hobbies include music, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.
“Music is undoubtedly my favorite hobby; it’s what I put my majority of focus towards,” Portie said.
Something people may not know about Portie is that along with playing flute and piano, she can also play the violin.
One of her favorite quotes is, “Without music, life would be a mistake.” Her biggest inspiration is her band director, Israel Castañeda.
“He has encouraged to try my hardest and never become complacent,” Portie said. “He has taught me how to be a leader.”
Portie said she is motivated by her band peers, specifically the people in her section.
“I hope to set a good example for my girls, someone they can look up to and know cares about them,” Portie said.
Her favorite class this year is Jazz Band because she gets to play a fun and different genre of music. This class offers her new challenges and helps her expand her sense of musicality.
Some of her favorite accomplishments are being a leader in the LCM Band, in which she holds the title of flute section leader and quartermaster. She hopes these opportunities can help her when she enters the workplace. When asked about her future she said, “I’m not 100% sure what I would like to do after high school, but my current plan is to go to school to become a radiologist.”
According to band director Israel Castaneda, Portie has proven to be an invaluable asset to the band program.
“As the first chair flute in the Wind Ensemble, a talented pianist in the jazz band, and a dedicated section leader during Marching season, her musical prowess is truly exceptional,” Castaneda said. “Her unwavering commitment, positive demeanor, and remarkable ability to juggle her responsibilities within the band, academics, and other extracurricular pursuits exemplify her outstanding character. Throughout her high school journey, she has blossomed into a remarkable leader and individual. I have no doubt that she will continue to accomplish remarkable feats in her senior year and beyond.”
