Over the past year, I’ve had the opportunity to get to know one of the most lovely women on this earth. Lola Tiffany is one of the kindest, most selfless, funny, and just overall wonderful people I know and it’s an honor to get to call her my friend. Not only is she an amazing friend, but she’s also incredibly smart and receiving a scholarship for her academics and attending the University of Oregon in the fall. 

Lola loves music and has been involved in the school orchestra for 10 years now. That’s an entire decade dedicated to music. Her love for music started as a child when her dad would play music for her all the time, she felt music was just in her nature.  She started out by playing the viola but stated that the shoulder rest was quite annoying and she didn’t understand how to properly put it on so she switched to the cello out of spite and fell in love with it. The love for cello hasn’t been forever consistent, there have been moments where Lola even considered quitting. But whenever she felt that way, she found a way to reignite her passion and continued on. Lola says that she can’t get the feeling she gets from playing the cello anywhere else. 

Fun fact, this summer she intends on climbing a mountain! Lola has been fascinated with the idea of climbing a mountain ever since she was told about her Dad and grandpa climbing one shortly before she was born. Anytime she would see Mount Rainier on a drive she would just stare at it in awe and she’s made it her goal to climb one herself. If all goes according to plan, she’ll be accomplishing this lifelong goal in Canada this summer. 

I talked to Lola about her favorite part of this school year. Her response, the friends she’s made and the relationships she’s grown. She feels as though she’s finally found her place and found her people, she’s found the people she knows will be in her life for a very very long time. One person she’s really going to miss is Mr. Sipher, her orchestra director. Mr. Sipher has been her director since the 5th grade and she states that it’s going to be strange not seeing him every day after 7 years of seeing him for every orchestra practice. 

Not only is Lola incredibly sweet, but her mom is also one of the nicest people I have ever met in my entire life. Lola’s mom is her inspiration and the one who shaped Lola into the woman she is today. It’s always been the two of them together, through thick and thin, and she brought them from nothing to where they are now. In Lola’s own words,” she slays.”

Anyone who’s ever met this lovely woman would agree that she is the sweetest, most genuine person ever. She’s a woman with a plan and I know she’s going to be successful in life, regardless of any curveballs life throws. She’s fearless, motivated, and driven; and I can’t wait to see what she becomes.