Islander Brianna Whitney was recently voted Homecoming Princess of the royal court at North Fort Myers Academy of the Arts. PHOTO PROVIDED

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Fifteen-year-old islander Brianna Whitney of North Fort Myers Academy of the Arts was recently voted Homecoming Princess of the royal court at school, something she admits was no easy feat. Although she isn’t certain where the future will take her once she’s completed high school, in true island fashion, she said she’d like her future college degree to lead her into a career that will benefit other people.

“I’d really like to go to FSU,” said Whitney, saying she sees herself staying in the state.

While in enrolled the visual arts program, Whitney said an exciting program she completed was called, “Ink-Tober,” a month-long sketchbook in which students had to complete their project in ink. “Each day we had a different work to take a drawing from,” said Whitney, describing it as a big project grade.

In addition to her academic schedule, Whitney has taken piano for over two years, in hopes of continuing to become well rounded in the arts realm.

“I’d like to get good enough on the piano that people would enjoy hearing me play,” said Whitney. “When it comes to art, it’s important to me that I enjoy it myself, so when I get to a level that I’m happy with, that will be amazing.”

Unable to imagine getting tied down to one medium, she said perhaps in the future she’ll focus on one thing over another, but for now, she’s trying her hand at all things creative, with plans to tie it to a business and see where she lands.

Although she’s only 15, Whitney said her heart has already pointed her in the direction of teaching art, literature or history, admitting it might be an amazing way to be creative and still add to the journey of others as they learn.

When it comes to being voted Homecoming Princess, Whitney says the honor meant a great deal to her.

“I haven’t really done anything like this before,” she said. “There were two stages to this — getting on the ballot and actually becoming the princess. It was harder to get on the ballot, because you can literally choose anyone. It was hard to see myself that way, but once I was on the ballot I thought, I can see this now.

“I’d like to thank everyone who goes to North and voted for me and I just really want to thank the community,” said Whitney.