Homecoming court freshman Tatum Van Andel

Freshman Tatum Van Andel was on the Homecoming Court. With all the hype surrounding Homecoming, that seems to be what’s on everyone’s mind. But Van Andel has a little more on hers.

She wants to become an oncologist. An oncologist is a doctor who specializes in treating people with cancer. The three main types of oncologists are medical, surgical and radiation oncologist. These different types of oncologists often work together to treat a person with cancer.

Van Andel’s grandma had cancer.

No one knew how serious the cancer was. That’s why her dream job is to help the families of cancer patients through the process.  She doesn’t want other people to go through the pain of fearing for the life of someone they love like she did.

Family’s important to Van Andel. One of her favorite memories is going to see her great grandmother.

“When I was little, we went to Washington state to visit my great grandma and we got to boat around Puget Sound,” Van Andel said.

But even with the ambition, she’s still had Homecoming in the back of her mind.

“I didn’t think I would be on Homecoming Court but I think it’s a cool experience that my classmates thought of me in this way,” Van Andel said.