NEW PALESTINE — She’s smart, clever and filled with independent, original ideas. Plus, she’s talented, singing with the school’s show choir and building sets for school plays. But, perhaps one of Jillian Hartlerode’s best attributes is her ability to laugh with others and at herself thanks to a quick-witted sense of humor.
That’s the way English teacher Caroline Clayton describes the New Palestine High School senior, who’ll graduate with the Class of 2019 at 7 p.m. today in the school’s gymnasium.
“She’s a great person with a huge heart,” Clayton said. “She’s the kind of person you’d want your daughter to have as a friend.”
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Click here to purchase photos from this galleryJillian, 18, New Palestine, has needed those traits to get through the past couple of years of her life. She lost her mother, Susan Hartlerode, 43, who who died in February 2018, during Jillian’s junior year.
“She was really, really great, and I miss her terribly,” Jillian said. “Our mom was always so involved in our lives, so it’s been hard not having her.”
Jillian’s mother worked as a speech therapist at the Rehabilitation Hospital of Indianapolis before her health took a turn for the worst. One of things she taught her oldest daughter was to be kind toward others, Jillian said.
After her mother’s death, Jillian had to take all she’d learned from her mom, process it and grow up in a hurry. Jillian quickly learned life doesn’t stop, even after a tragedy. After taking a week off from school, Jillian plunged back into her lessons and extracurricular activities. She got her driver’s license and a job, went to prom twice, and applied for and was accepted into college.
“I don’t know how I made it through,” Jillian said. “I just kept myself busy; plus there was so much going on.”
While Jillian sees herself as an average student, she looked deep within herself to pull out an inner resilience that helped her regain balance in her life and push forward, she said.
Jillian was accepted to attend both Butler and Purdue Universities. She decided to become a Boilermaker, like her mom, and will study English and American sign language, which her mom taught her when she was a child.
Jillian has a plan to become a teacher before heading into local politics, where she hopes she can one day give back to the community.
“It’s really hard for me to think about those who don’t have a voice,” Jillian said. “I just want to do all I can to help other people who really need it.”
Jillian is hoping to take her education and do something she feels her mom would be proud of.
Jillian’s father, Jack Hartlerode, is a master chief in the United States Naval Reserve and instilled a sense of patriotism into Jillian’s life, she said. Both her parents made sure she and her sister, Ava, 15, a soon-to-be-NPHS junior, developed a strong passion for their country.
“Whenever we’d go to celebration shows and see fireworks going off, my mom would always say, ‘Jillian, what’s that sound like?’ And I’d always say, ‘Mom, that’s the sound of freedom!’”
Jillian’s father said his oldest daughter was a rock during the time of his wife’s illness, continuing to go to school and looking after her sister. The family has been living one day at a time, he said. They have taken each each step as it comes, including making plans to send Jillian off to college.
“She really matured above what is expected of a teenager at that time,” Jack Hartlerode said.
He’s practically proud of the fact she’ll be branching out soon on her own to chase after professional goals in West Lafayette.
“Eva and I will be good,” her father said. “We’ll do what we do, and while it will be hard not having Jillian around, we’ll deal with it because Jillian will be doing what you want your kid to do when you raise them — push out and explore the world.”
If Jillian continues to do what she’s always done, she’ll find great success in life, her father said. She took part in school’s theater program all four years, helping build sets. She participated in show choir; was part of the school’s year book staff as photo editor; and also took and passed Advanced Placement classes.
For Jillian, the hardest part is knowing her mom won’t physically be a part of her life anymore. However, she knows her spirit will always be with her, Jillian said, especially for things like graduation.
“She better be there,” Jillian said with a laugh. “I can’t imagine why she’d want to miss it.”
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The is the final story in a series about members of the Class of 2019 who have overcome adversity.
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New Palestine and Mt. Vernon high schools will have their commencement ceremonies this evening.
New Palestine’s graduation begins at 7 p.m. in the school’s gymnasium, 4485 S. Victory Drive, New Palestine.
Mt. Vernon’s graduation begins at 7:30 p.m. at Hancock Health Stadium at the school, 8112 N. County Road 200W.
Eastern Hancock High School’s graduation will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday in the school gymnasium, 10320 E. County Road 250N.
Greenfield-Central’s graduation is next Saturday, June 8.
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