LIGHT ME UP: To catch this month's EHAS, the "Post" enlisted the help of senior Alexa Burch, who agreed to wrap herself in Christmas lights and await the person who would plug the strand into the nearest outlet. That person was sophomore Daphney Torres. (Photo/ Diana Adams)

Inspired by the multicolored Christmas lights still hanging from the ceiling of the newspaper room (pleasant reminders of the seemingly very distant holiday season), we decided to make the selection process for this month’s EHAS solely centered around this special ornament.

The premise was simple enough: we would wrap partially reluctant EHAS helper senior Alexa Burch with Christmas lights and place her out in the hallway with the lights unplugged. The first person to plug in the lights would naturally be the subject of this month’s Everyone Has a Story.

And so, after numerous minutes had passed and as many awkward looks were endured, sophomore Daphney Torres finally plugged in the lights and the Post found its story.

What’s perhaps most interesting about Daphney’s story is where, and when, it all began: Indeed, Daphney was born in an Air Force base near Pensacola (the largest in all America) … on Thanksgiving Day.

At the time, her father was actually in the Air Force while her mother was doing volunteer work with the Red Cross. Daphney has visited “her” air force base on two occasions since.

Following her birth, Daphney and her family moved on many instances, a fact she thinks is very relevant to her story.

She lived in four different houses in Massachusetts (where she lived when she was very young) and then in four more here in Florida.

However, she is certainly not done moving: “I really want to live somewhere foreign where I don’t know  anything and learn all about their culture and traditions.”

Yet, despite her always changing environment, there is one thing in Daphney’s life that has always remained constant: her love of art: “I’m passionate about art,” she said.” I love creating things. I like to write and draw and create my own world. It sounds kind of corny, but it’s what I love.”

She is considering a career in the visual arts, and has already begun taking art classes at school.

While Daphney rushes from class to class like any other busy student, her experience at school differs from the average.

Daphney’s mother, Dr. Mercedes Torres, has been a Spanish teacher at Heritage for years.

And while some might feel uneasy sharing a school with a family member’s place of work, the balance seems to work out well for the two of them.

“It has a lot of advantages,” said Dr. Torres. “I get to know her friends, her teachers, and all her peers very well.”

But the pair does occasionally face some difficulties. “Sometimes you hear things you don’t like,”said Dr. Torres. “I don’t like that people might treat her differently knowing she’s a teacher’s daughter.”

While their close relationship has definitely played a part in Daphney’s life, Dr. Torres began Daphney’s story even before she was born.

Dr. Torres, while reading Greek mythology at the time, named Daphney after Daphne the nymph.

“Apollo was in love with her,” explained Daphney.

“Her mother gave her the gift of indifference, so she wouldn’t love him back.”

Though born in a time drastically different than that of her ancient namesake, Daphney, who sees herself as an “old soul,” identifies in some way with the nymph.

However, unlike the goddess Daphney does not, in times of unsureness or change, turn to indifference–instead, she embraces the adventure with an eager spirit.

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO FOR THIS EHAS BY CLICKING HERE