MIA’S PERSPECTIVE. Mia Janay Vermetten was born September 25, 2007 to Mike and Stacy Vermetten. She has grown up in Waterville Kansas with her three sisters; Shelby, Sam, and Maddy. As the youngest, Vermetten has always looked up to her sisters. “Growing up obviously they were my role models. I wanted to be just like them, they exhibited ambition, perseverance and diligence. I’ve had the advantage of watching them grow up ahead of me. They were like a preview of what my life could be like and they set the bar high. They’ve influenced me in every way, from how I treat people to how I chase my goals. I’ve learned so much just by watching them.”
During Vermetten's 4 years at Valley Heights, she has been involved in art for one year; NHS and Stuco for two years; FACS, Volleyball, Basketball, and Cheer for three years; and Journalism, All School Play, KAY, and track for four years. Her favorite high school memory was State Volleyball of 2024. “We were in the locker room getting hyped up before the game which gave us all the energy we needed to come out and beat the number one seed, Inman.” One of Vermetten's greatest accomplishments is leading the state in serve receive percentage during the 2024 volleyball season. She spends her Friday nights driving around listening to music with her friends or going on late night sonic runs.
After high school Vermetten will attend Emporia State University where she plans to achieve a Bachelor of Science in Health and Human Performance. Later on, she would like to become a physical therapist working at a small practice. In 10 years she plans to be married with a few children while continuing her love for traveling.
Albert Einstein once said,“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” This quote speaks to Vermetten because it is a reminder to look for lessons in challenges. Vermetten’s senior mentor, Miss Jones stated, “Mia is a responsible, hard working, and trustworthy leader. Her personality draws people to her and she never fails to make me laugh.” Finally, Vermetten would like to leave Valley Heights with the advice to not worry about fitting in with everyone, instead use your uniqueness as a strength.
Article by Paige Miller