Helping is part of girl's life

Not wanting to know what it would be like if everything went awry, young Elizabeth Burton has turned to helping others as selfishness runs rampant.

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"I am amazed at the poise of this young lady," said Deborah Governski, Elizabeth's second-grade teacher at Stevens Creek Elementary School. "She is quietly analytical as she observes her surroundings and works well with others."

Elizabeth says her willingness to help others comes from a desire to see all things work out for the best.

"If you didn't, then everything would go wrong," said the 7-year-old daughter of Ronald and Wanda Burton, of Martinez.

Elizabeth takes her studies seriously and enjoys many of the everyday school activities. In the morning, her class is given a math worksheet and participates in a brainstorming session to figure out the answer.

"When we are brainstorming ideas in class, Elizabeth can think of an unending number of ideas to add to our list," Governski said.

Elizabeth cites math as her favorite subject but says she also is fond of reading. In fact, just a month into the new school year, she already has read 20 books and taken the Accelerated Reader test on them.

Elizabeth has written a number of fiction stories.

"I'll probably be a writer when I grow up," she said. She says she also enjoys painting pictures of people, animals and outdoor scenes.

When Elizabeth isn't busy with schoolwork or writing and drawing in her journal, she can be found dancing to rhythmic beats at Augusta West Dance Studio, where she has been a student for three years. She is taking tap and jazz and hopes to soon take lessons in hip-hop.

In addition to her weekly dance lessons, Elizabeth takes piano lessons and participates in the Awana and Girls in Action programs at her church, West Acres Baptist Church on Gibbs Road in Evans.

"Elizabeth is a delightful student," Governski said. "She is an accomplished writer, artist and friend."