BonnerSprings.com

For most people, going to the orthodontist for braces isn't an enjoyable experience.

But for Katie Kobialka, her trip to the dentist was the complete opposite, and even led to thoughts of a future career.

"I just love having the feeling of having pretty teeth," she said.

After graduating with the rest of her classmates next Thursday, Kobialka plans to attend Kansas State University and major in pre-dentistry. After graduating, she said she would continue on at a dentistry college where she wants to focus on orthodontics.

She said college life at K-State was going to take some getting used to, considering she's coming from an only-child home. For her freshman year she'll stay in the dorms, where a roommate will be chosen for her at random.

"It's going to be crazy having to actually share a room with someone," said Kobialka, who currently has her own room and bathroom.

While there are many great memories she'll be taking away from her high school experience, she said it was the bond that her class has formed that is her favorite. She described the class of 2008 as being "unique" because they were all "united."

"It's nice," she said. "We've always been close so everyone is friends with everyone."

One of her proudest moments in high school was her senior class project. Kobialka wrote a book that chronicles her grandmother's experience during World War II of surviving in a concentration camp.

Through a series of interviews with her grandmother, Kobialka was able to get detailed accounts about her experience that will be treasured by her whole family throughout the future.

"I'm glad I did it and I'm happy she chose me to tell her story," she said.

After it was completed Kobialka read the book to her grandmother. By the end, she said both of them were in tears.

These experiences will not be lost to Kobialka as she heads off to a new life at college. She said she chose K-State because it was close enough to visit often, yet far enough to experience new freedom. She said she hopes to stay in touch with many of her friends, who for the last year have been enthusiastically chanting, "Seniors, What! Seniors, What! 0-8."

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