Meet Kasen Cline, a senior at Portland High School. Outside of school, he enjoys being involved in his church, going to the gym, and just spending time with friends and family.

Kasen says his favorite thing about being a student at PHS is the people.

Kasen says, “Over the years, I’ve made a lot of good friends and met some amazing teachers.”

When asked about a favorite time or memory, Kasen says, “I wouldn’t really say that I have a favorite memory, but I have enjoyed all of the different events with my friends and having the opportunity to be on PHS homecoming court my sophomore and senior year. Things that made high school feel like more than just a school assignment.”

Kasen states what he’ll miss most after graduation is seeing his friends and the teachers that he’s gotten to know over the past few years.

He also thinks he will miss the everyday things, just being there, all of the little things that you don’t realize until they’re gone.

Throughout high school, Kasen has been involved in several different things, such as track, HOSA, the National Honor Society, CTE Ambassador, PHS Can Line, and even outside of school as a student leader at Generation Church.

Kasen also tried to stay involved in other school events and opportunities that he had been given throughout the years.

Kasen said HOSA meant the most to him because it connects directly to his interest in healthcare and his future goals. Kasen said being involved in HOSA has given him opportunities to learn more about healthcare while also developing his leadership and communication skills.

Kasen states, “I am most proud of the growth I have made throughout high school. Getting involved with different things and getting out of my comfort zone has changed who I am completely.

“Getting more involved in church has been my biggest accomplishment by far. It has changed not only my life but my whole family’s lives.

“I have also stayed focused on my goal of pursuing a career in medicine, which has definitely been a challenge, but I am fortunate enough to have my parents, Kory and Amber Cline, and both of my health teachers, Mrs. Cook and Mrs. Sherrell, continue to push me along the way.”

Kasen says after graduation, he plans to attend college and pursue a path toward becoming an anesthesiologist. He is interested in studying healthcare and eventually continuing on to medical school.

Kasen says, “I’ve always been interested in going into a profession in healthcare, but as I learned more about different careers, anesthesiology stood out to me. I enjoy practicing medicine and being able to help others.”

He also states he is most excited to experience college and everything that comes with it and is looking forward to meeting new people and really taking his first steps toward his future.

Kasen says if there is one thing he’d want to tell the upcoming freshman, it would be to not be afraid to put yourself out there.

“Get involved in as many things as you can, talk to new people, and take advantage of any opportunity that you’re given. High school goes by so much quicker than you think, so enjoy it, and don’t be afraid to try something new.”

Kasen closed with, “I hope I remember the people and the relationships that I have made and all of the fun experiences that I got to have. I want to be able to look back and remember all of the friends that I have made, the teachers who impacted me, and all of the fun things and opportunities I got to experience.”

The Portland community, The Portland Sun, and Stay Positive News all wish Kasen much success in his journey and can’t wait to see the places he will go.

Editor's Note: A special thank you to our contributing writer, Madison "Punchy" Cook. Madison is on staff at The Portland Sun and Portland's Chamber of Commerce. She is also a Brand Ambassador for Stay Positive News. Her passion for positivity comes through in every role she carries. Thank you to The Portland Sun for sharing Madison's talents with us, and dedicating news space to stories that make us smile.