Music has always been a part of her life, but her interest peaked early.

“I’ve always loved music and my grandpa has always wanted to learn how to play a musical instrument,” Hoover said. “So that pushed my drive for wanting to learn how to play an instrument.”

As a fifth-grader, high school students came to the classroom to introduce musical instruments. Once she saw them, Hoover was intrigued.

“Music has always been a big part of my life,” Hoover said. “So when they introduced instruments to us, I knew I was going to be playing one of them.

“We then got to try out the different instruments and the violin was my favorite to play, and I have since been playing the violin.”

As a senior at Fort Dodge Senior High, Hoover has been a part of orchestra, A Capella choir, and solo ensemble for both choir and orchestra.

“Orchestra is a really fun class,” Hoover said. “I have made many great friendships being a part of it too.

“My favorite part of being in orchestra is to hear our progression as a group from when we get the music to when we go there and perform it.”

Hoover also takes part in the spring musicals, large group speech and National Honor Society.

“My favorite part of choir is singing with my friends. It’s a good way to have fun and put one of my favorite things to do together,” Hoover said. “I have done the last two musicals at the high school and they are so much fun. The dedication that the whole cast puts in is so rewarding in the end because we get to bring amazing shows to the audience.

“You create such a good bond with the people in the cast that you wouldn’t expect to form outside of the musical. I plan on trying out for the musical again as the experience of doing a musical is so rewarding and fun.”

Hoover also enjoys the other side of the stage and the acting part of performing.

“Speech is a very cool way to express yourself,” Hoover said. “There are so many different categories that you can choose from and I think many people, if they tried, could find a category that they would really love performing in.

“Over the years I have been in one act, choral reading, ensemble acting, and this year I decided to try a new category of musical theater.”

In her final year as a Dodger, Hoover is going to miss many things about high school.

“As a senior this year, the thing I am going to miss most is getting to perform with some of my best friends,” Hoover said. “Most of us are going to the same college, but I think many of us are going to be busy performing together like we do now.

“I am also going to miss the bus rides after speech competition days, because the best laughs are always shared on the bus after a long day.”

Finding new interests and being a part of something new drew Hoover to participate in many activities.

“I think the most important reason to be involved in multiple activities is to get yourself out of your comfort zone,” Hoover said. “I had done acting and singing before I had come to high school, but not at this level. However, it helped me a lot with confidence and trying new things.

“Being involved can also help build really strong relationships with people you may not have thought you would be friends with.”

Musicals have been the most memorable part of Hoover’s high school days.

“The most memorable thing that I have been a part of was the musical ‘Les Miserables,'” Hoover said. “This was my first musical at the high school and it was so fun to be a part of.

“I had a small role, but it didn’t make the show any less fun to do. With this musical, we also got the opportunity to perform a song from the musical down at the Civic Center for the Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards.”

Throughout all of her achievements, Hoover has leaned on her family.

“My biggest influence is my mom,” Hoover said. “She shows up to everything and always asks me how things are going with the musical or just with school and other problems that life throws at me.

“I know she would give me the world and that truly means a lot to me.”

After high school, Hoover plans to attend Iowa State University. She will enter Ames undecided, but believes she will choose something in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) field. Hoover also plans to continue performing and singing.