2025 Students of Distinction

Brynlee Macdonald: A journey of healing and self-discovery

Gig Harbor Now is posting profiles featuring the Students of Distinction being honored by the Greater Gig Harbor Foundation. Peers, teachers or parents nominate students, who must be a graduating senior at a Peninsula School District school. A panel of community leaders selects students to be honored in one of seven categories: academics; athletics; career and technical excellence; community service; music, arts and drama; overcoming adversity; and science and technology.

These students will be celebrated during a banquet from 6 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at Ocean5, 5268 Point Fosdick Dr.

School: Henderson Bay High School

Category: Overcoming Adversity

Brynlee Macdonald’s story is one of quiet strength, resilience, and the courage to redefine herself in the face of hardship.

For much of her early high school years, Brynlee felt lost in the shadows – struggling with anxiety, depression, and the lingering grief of losing her father in sixth grade. The isolation that followed left her unmotivated and disconnected. “I hit my lowest point in May of freshman year,” she recalls, describing the silent weight she carried as she watched friendships fade and confidence slip away.

Brynlee MacDonald

But Brynlee never gave up. Her sophomore year became a time of reflection, a time to begin tending to her mental health. She made efforts to connect, to trust, and to rebuild. Though setbacks still came – manipulative friendships, and a toxic relationship that drained her spirit – she didn’t stay down for long. By her junior year, she joined a welding program where she finally found stable friendships, a new environment, and a spark of motivation she hadn’t felt in years.

Breaking free from that difficult relationship in the spring marked a turning point. Over the summer before her senior year, Brynlee chose healing. She reunited with someone who gave her space and support, and in doing so, began to rediscover the joy in simply being herself. “I became happy again for the first time in years,” she says. “I let go of the sorrow for past friendships and let new ones grow and bloom.”

This year, Brynlee walks through the halls of Henderson Bay High School with her head held higher. She’s found peace in new hobbies – crocheting, gardening, painting, woodworking – and is learning what truly brings her happiness. She now embraces academics with renewed energy, proudly maintaining above a 3.0 GPA, something she once believed was out of reach.

“I’ve learned that my trauma does not define me,” she reflects. “If I fail, that’s okay – I’ll try again. If I succeed, I deserve to feel proud.” With a deep sense of self-awareness and an unwavering determination, Brynlee is forging a path defined not by her past, but by the hope and purpose she’s chosen for herself.

As she looks ahead to pursuing a business degree and eventually building a life in Alberta, Canada, Brynlee carries with her the hard-earned wisdom that growth often comes from discomfort – and that healing is the most powerful kind of strength.