Celine Tendo is a 15-year-old sophomore who was born in Gothenburg, Sweden. She moved to Calabash, NC in 2019 with her mother and brother. Tendo is currently taking her second semester of journalism and decided she wanted to join the class because of her passion for reading, designing and creating content.
“From a young age, I’ve always been drawn to creating. I love it whether it’s through books, drawing or even social media posts,” said Tendo. “Creating allows me to express my thoughts and ideas clearly, and I’m excited to get the chance to share stories and photographs that inform, entertain or inspire others.”
Tendo is currently a member of the junior varsity cheerleading team where she’s working hard to improve her skills and be a part of the team’s success. Tendo is also a part of the track team, where she runs the 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles and is a part of the 4×400 team. Aside from cheering and running, Tendo spends most of her free time doing nails, drawing, reading, going shopping or going to the beach with her friends.
“In Sweden, there were no beaches nearby, but after living here in North Carolina where I’m surrounded by them, I can’t imagine being anywhere without easy access to the ocean,” said Tendo. “The beach has become one of my favorite places now, and now I’m there almost everyday in the summer.”
After graduation, Tendo plans to go to a four-year college outside of North Carolina. She wants to step out of her comfort zone, explore new places and meet different people. She feels that studying in a new area will help her grow as a person and give her opportunities to learn from different cultures and perspectives. Tendo dreams of majoring in business or marketing, working in social media marketing or pursuing a career as an entrepreneur.
“I want a career where I can be creative and express myself without many rules or super long hours,” said Tendo. “What really matters to me is having the freedom to think outside the box and come up with my own ideas. I want to have a job that lets me be innovative and work on stuff that actually means something to me, without having to follow a strict 9-to-5 schedule or following a ton of rules.”
