Senior spotlight: Emercyn Morning Star class of 2024

Being a portrait photographer is really awesome for sooo many reasons but getting to know new people is one of the best parts. I really enjoyed getting to her know Emercyn in particular because something about her reminds me of myself 🤔 (except she’s way cooler and fashion magazine level gorgeous). The way she converses from the start makes you feel how completely sincere she is. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not likening her to honey badger or anything (she’s so kind and very considerate of others) but I can tell that she doesn’t do or say things to impress other people. She only willingly participates in what feels intrinsic to her regardless of if it’s “cool” or not -a quality I highly value in both friends and people I photograph. It was hard for us to land on final vibes for her shoot because settling on which side of her to portray with clothing choices was difficult…but man, am I happy with the super girly outcome! 😆 She doesn’t have an exact plan for her future and I think it’s because she is wonderfully multifaceted that the idea of choosing one path over another feels constricting to her busy and passionate mind. I believe Emercyn is going to do something awesome with her future. I mean her name alone already makes her sound like a famous person! Enjoy her fun interview and GORGEOUS images below.

Name: Emercyn Morningstar 

Age: 17

School: North Hagerstown High School

Nick names: Em

Alright Emercyn, let’s talk about your faves

Color: Baby pink

Tv show: The Office- That’s definitely in my top 3 fave shows of all time

Book: The Love Hypothesis

Subject in school: Science

Teacher: Mr. Lewis 

Pastime: Watching TikToks and FaceTiming my friends

Hobbies/extracurriculars: Drawing and taking pictures -Yes! I have been wanting to see some of your work!

Top three memories of high school: Getting to sit 2 seats away from my best friend at graduation. In Mr. Heller’s class when we all left the room and walked back in screaming when Kundai fell asleep. Walking to Rita’s with my English class. The simplicity of these moments makes me think you had a really fun friend group in your classes. My fave parts of high school were similar experiences.

Clothing item: Black leggings - 🙌 as you know, this is what I live in.

Lunch spot : Chick-fil-a

About the future…

You’re done with high school, what is your next move? I’m not really sure what my future entails but I want to pursue something that makes me both happy and successful. I’m planning on working towards a career that I won’t get sick of and I plan on attending college to do so. That’s a great plan. Although you didn’t ask, I wish I learned the following sooner when I was your age: Things really started to click for me when I figured out happiness is a form of success. I also learned that we never stop evolving so you shouldn’t expect your career path to stop evolving.

What do you hope to be doing in the next 5 years and where? I hope to be traveling around and exploring the world while maintaining a successful job. I hope to not feel stressed and achieve the perfect balance in life so I can get out and have fun while still supporting myself. I don’t know where I want to be, but I my goal is to feel secure and content wherever I end up in these next couple of years. I feel like you are me 18 years ago! Except I feared the unknown and stressed myself out about not having a detailed plan (I want control of the future but I’m also indecisive 🤷🏻‍♀️). You sound like you have a better mindset than I did, so good for you!

What’s the number one world issue you would solve if you could? Anything including unneeded suffering like abuse, murder, bullying, violence, etc.

What is your dream career (even if it’s just a dream) ? A couple of my dream careers would be a tattoo artist, photographer, and model. With the exception of model, those were my dream jobs when I graduated high school too! Photographer used to be just a dream and not something I thought was acceptable to pursue. Some plot twists in life made me realize it didn’t have to be a dream and it was the happiness I was looking for in all the wrong places before. Just something to remember 😉… AANNDD I will keep you as a model forever if you will let me! 😁

Just for funsies… 

Emercyn - The Movie: what celebrity should play you? Emma Stone -Yess!

And on that note, if someone wrote a novel about your life what should it be called? Unspoken - Interesting 🧐

What song will you never forget the lyrics to? Fast Car: Tracy Chapman

Since you mentioned that song, is it your favorite? It’s one of my favorites. I listened to it growing up, it was one of me and my dad’s songs we always sang together.

Pretend money ain’t no thang- where are you gonna go on vacation right now? The Bahamas

You can only eat one thing for the rest of your life. What’s it gonna be? Ferrero Rocher - The little chocolates wrapped in gold?

If your pet could talk, what do you think they might say about you? I’m my dog Murphey, who is a dachshund, could talk I’m sure he’d say that I talk a lot and call him names but I love him like he’s a person and have always been attached to the hip to him.

What is your proudest (maybe not biggest) accomplishment so far: Starting and managing my own business at 13. Wait what!? I need to know more about this!

Any obscure talents? Most people would likely say that I can sing pretty well and am pretty talented at drawing. I’m also good at baking and cooking for the most part. Love it!

What’s a skill you don’t have but want to learn? To be able to read music and play instruments like the piano, guitar, and drums. That’s not out of reach! I vote you learn piano.

Don’t miss the picture of Emercyn from her freshman year at the bottom of the session!