Bella Rahming believes in raising the bar. Not just for herself, but for Iola High School as a whole.
“Iola should be a 4A school,” she said of the designation that, in part, would put Iola, primarily a Class 3A school, in competition with larger districts across the state.
“If you set that expectation, we will reach it,” she said. And conversely, when students aren’t faced with stiffer competition, “We perform at a lower level. We’ll settle.”
Rahming is in line to graduate as a valedictorian. She has maintained a 4.0 grade point average throughout her four years at IHS as well as at Allen Community College.
While that success isn’t lost on the 18-year-old, Rahming’s been preparing for this day for a long time.
She’s the daughter of Candace Elbrader, a single mother of three.
“I definitely don’t wish my situation were any different,” Rahming said, but added it comes with extra responsibilities.
“You just help out more,” she said. She also sees herself as a role model to her younger siblings, brother Brox, 14, and sister Briella, 9.
Such things “make you grow up a little quicker. Perhaps it’s made me more equipped to handle adulthood,” she mused.
Rahming has two answers for why she’s worked so hard to maintain an all-A record.
“On the surface level, it’s because I’m kind of a perfectionist. I expect this of myself.”
“On a deeper level, it’s because I never want my mom to worry about what’s next. College is next. And I wanted to know I could go anywhere without my mom having to freak out about having to pay because she’s already done so much for me to get here. She doesn’t need to do more. I can get myself there.”
Ever since Rahming began high school, she’s also taken classes through Allen Community College. With 42 hours of community college credits under her belt, Rahming plans to attend ACC for one year after she graduates from IHS to complete her associate degree. From there she plans to pursue her newfound passion for theater and acting by applying to New York City’s prestigious The Juilliard School.
“It’s a long shot,” Rahming admitted. But that’s what dreams are for.
Rahming has performed in a handful of school plays including the musicals “Shrek the Musical Jr.” and “Honk,” and most recently, “Deadline.”
Her “fallback” is medical school to become a psychiatrist.
