Beth Buchanan’s sunny disposition starts the second she climbs out of bed and sets the tone for the day.

“I like getting up in the morning because I know there’s going to be a good day today,” said the fourth-grader at Valley Oak Elementary.

Her teacher, Raylene Moazamipour, describes her star student as self-driven, persistent and always ready to help others.

“She’s this tiny girl, but a role model for the other students and accomplishes whatever she wants, no matter what obstacles are in the way,” Moazamipour says.

This straight-A student with a creative mind takes part in oral interpretation, choir, Gifted and Talented Education (GATE), drama, soccer and basketball, and she still finds time for piano lessons, acting in musicals and helping out in church.

Buchanan is most proud of winning a science project, her community service with the Girl Scouts and overcoming her shyness to become class president.

“It took a lot of courage to give my campaign speech, and I was surprised and honored to win,” she said.

Buchanan wants to be a pediatrician or a teacher, but also has shown talent as a science fiction writer. She wrote a book called “The Door,” for a young authors fair. It was about an introverted girl, Jenna, and her adventures traveling through magical doors into the future, the past and back home again.

“Jenna always thought she was boring,” Buchanan said, “but discovered things she’s good at, and that she’s actually interesting.”