Like most Salamanca High School seniors, 17-year-old Emma Isaac, daughter of David and Meridith Isaac, has had a very busy year.

She managed to combine her studies with after school activities and sports while still maintaining a 3.5 grade point average and her ranking as 11th in her class. She is a member of the National Honor Society and was named Outstanding Honor Society Member and Rotary Club Student of the Month.

Emma belongs to the in-class journalism group, is class treasurer, yearbook editor and a member of the Business Marketing Honor Society. She also serves as a lifeguard during open session swimming at the school’s pool.

In pursuit of her goal to work as a teacher in early childhood education, Emma will spend the first school semester of next year at Jamestown Community College before transferring to SUNY Cortland. Then she plans to get a master’s degree in administration.

“Eventually, I want to be a school principal,” she said.

Emma is a talented softball player who just finished participating in the seasonal playoffs.

“We lost three to four, but we had a good season,” she said.

Emma plays softball all year long for a team called the Dazzlers out of Orchard Park. She has also participated several times in the Indigenous Games and will do so again this year.

Senior Class activities have included a trip to Disney World in Orlando, Fla. Since Emma has been there several times with her family, she served as a sort of informal tour guide for other members of her group.

“It was fun to go there and hang out with my class,” she said.

Another senior year highlight was attending the Senior Prom with J.W. Bouva, which was held at Holimont in Ellicottville, with an Enchanted Forest theme.

Perhaps the most memorable event of her senior year, was a trip she recently took during the Easter break, with her great-aunt, Sue A. Fries.

“As a graduation present, my Aunt took me to Europe for 12 days and on a Mediterranean cruise,” she said.

“We talked about it for a long time,” she said. “But, it didn’t really sink in until we were almost ready to go. Then I realized it was actually going to happen and it was so exciting.”

With more than 30 different stamps on her passport, world travel is old hat for Fries, but this was Emma’s first experience abroad. The excitement of it showed on her face when she talked about it.

“I’d been there before, but seeing it through Emma’s eyes really made it so much more fun,” said Fries.

Fries and Emma began by flying to Rome, for two days, touring points of interest like St. Peters Basilica, the Vatican, Colosseum, Forum, Trevi Fountain and the famous painted ceiling by Michelangelo.

“We didn’t see the Pope, but he seemed to be right ahead of us wherever we went. It was Easter week and lots of preparations were going on. Most of the shops were closed except those who catered to tourists,” said Fries.

“We had a wonderful lunch and I really enjoyed it, even though I didn’t know what it was. Three hours later, Sue told me that I’d eaten snails!” Emma said.

They visited the city of Pisa and its famous leaning tower.

In Civitavecchia, they boarded the brand new, English made “Majestic Princess” for its maiden voyage.

“Our cabin had a balcony view of the ocean,” Emma said.

First stop was Barcelona, Spain, famous for its unique architecture. They visited the La Sagrada Familia Basilica designed by architect Antoni Gaudi. Groundbreaking for this structure, done in the Modernisme fashion, began 135 years ago in 1882 and it is estimated that it will not be completed until 2026-2028.

Emma said she was particularly impressed by the stained glass windows, strategically located to catch sunlight at different times of the day, and symbolically depicting life and death.

Fries, an art lover, made sure their visit included an exhibit of the early works of Picasso and landmark tours of Paul Cezanne.

While in Barcelona, Emma proudly ordered their dinner in Spanish.

“The Gothic district in Barcelona was a favorite,” Emma said.

In Valencia, they visited the world’s third largest Oceanographic aquarium.

Other stops were to Gibraltar and the tiny island kingdom of Monaco.

“One day, we didn’t go anywhere. We just stayed on the cruise ship and relaxed. That was fun too!” Emma said, noting she was very appreciative for the opportunity her aunt gave her.

Visiting different countries and cultures, where different languages were spoken, was fascinating and “eye opening,” she said.

“It was an experience I will never forget.”

“I think Emma will make a good little traveler,” said Fries.

“And we only got lost once,” Emma said.