Youth Profile: Ottawa teen is seeing stars

OTTAWA — Shaeley Diemer sees her future in the stars.

The Ottawa-Glandorf High School senior plans to pursue a career in astronomy.

“I'm all about the stars,” she said. “It's a goal of mine to discover new planets and solar systems. I think it would be incredible to find planets with the possibility to hold life.”

Diemer said she first took an interest in astronomy many years ago.

“I've always been fascinated with the stars and planets ever since I was a little kid,” she said. “We had this book of the planets, and I would study it, and in it, there were stargazing maps. I also had this almanac of my great-grandma's that I liked that had a study of the planets in the back.”

Through the years, Diemer said, her passion for the stars has grown.

“Now I have a whole shelf of books about the universe and stargazing guides, and I have glow-in-the-dark stars all over the ceiling in my room, and I have so many star shirts, star necklaces, and star rings. It's like a miniobsession,” she said with a laugh.

In her backyard, year-round, Diemer enjoys stargazing.

“The best time to see the stars is in the winter, but in the summer, my dad and I make a fire and lie on the picnic table and just watch the stars and relax. It's really neat,” she said.

“I think it's fascinating how approximately half the stars you see at night are already dead,” Diemer added, “but you don't know it because it takes that long for the light to reach Earth.”

For Diemer, a star's life cycle holds particular interest.

“A star is born out of, basically, a collection of dust, and then it continues to grow,” she said, “and eventually, it explodes, and from that explosion, stars are reborn.”

Diemer also finds beauty in the stars.

“The stars are more colorful than they appear,” she said. “My favorite planet is Neptune. It's probably because it's a really pretty ocean-blue color.”

At Ottawa-Glandorf, Diemer is a member of the Art Club. Musically, she played the marching French horn for the Titan Marching Brass. She also plays flute in the concert band and joins the pep band at basketball games.

At SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Ottawa, Diemer participates in youth group activities.

In addition, Diemer volunteers with the Putnam Adolescent Response Team for Youth. As a four-year PARTY member, she helps plan and coordinate drug prevention activities for local youth.

Diemer also works at Tony's Drive-In and Pizza Hut in Ottawa.