Home Education 

Story

Kirkland Teen's School Year Ends On High Note

Posted: 1:28 pm PDT June 19, 2009Updated: 1:34 pm PDT June 19, 2009

Friday was the final day of class for many local schools.

But for one student, it was the end of a very special year, in which he learned a lot about himself.

Ender Smith, 15, just finished his 9th-grade year at Kirkland's Rose Hill Junior High on a high note. He was able to conduct the school orchestra during the end-of-the-year concert.

Not only that, it was a song he wrote.

RAW VIDEO: Classmates Perform Student's Song

Better yet, he just started playing guitar a year ago and he can't even read music.

The school's orchestra teacher, Janet Miller, says she's never had a student like him, in more than 20 years of teaching.

"I got the same feeling as when you watch Mozart -- watch that movie Amadeus. It's in his mind," Miller said.

See the complete story by reporter Jeff Dubois about how Ender was able to put the notes in his head down on paper -- and how his new-found passion of music has changed his school life, as well as his life at home.