Laurel Eith '24 has always had a deep connection with the world of music. She began her musical journey at the age of 10 with voice lessons, and it quickly became clear that the arts were more than just a hobby for her – they were a fundamental part of her life.

"I've been singing for as long as I can remember," said Eith. "My dad was an actor who also did musical theater, and my grandfather was a musician, so our household was always filled with musical influences."

Despite growing up in a family of performers, what genuinely fuels Laurel's dedication to music is the opportunity it offers her to create a positive impact on others. This connection became evident when she was invited to perform the National Anthem at the Naturalization Ceremony held at King Gillette Ranch on Thursday, November 2, where 48 citizenship candidates from 18 countries were sworn in.

"It was an incredible honor when Ms. Dietsch selected me to sing the National Anthem," Eith emphasized. "Singing is not just a passion of mine; I also treasure every chance to give back to the community whenever I can."

"This is the second year that we've had a Viewpoint student perform at a Naturalization Ceremony, and when they reached out again, there was no one I could think of faster than Laurel. She's the best representative of our choir program, and I was really happy she agreed to it,” said Carrie Dietsch, Middle & Upper School Choral Music Teacher at Viewpoint.

Although Laurel does not intend to pursue a professional career in musical theater, her determination to maintain her connection with music remains unwavering. She explained, "I'm also passionate about songwriting, so even if it's not within the realm of musical theater, I intend to explore opportunities such as pursuing a minor or double major in that field."

Currently, Laurel is actively in the process of applying to universities, where she plans to major in both psychology and anthropology. We wish her the best of luck in her future academic and musical endeavors!