2026 Students of Distinction

Cali Dooley: Pushing herself out of her comfort zone

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. Wednesday, May 20, at Ocean5, 5268 Pt. Fosdick Dr.

School: Peninsula High School

Category: Art, music and drama

For Cali Dooley, the stage became the place where she finally found her voice. What began as a nervous freshman joining drama club despite severe anxiety gradually transformed into a journey of confidence, leadership, and self-discovery that reshaped her entire high school experience.

“When I started high school, I was shy, anxious, and terrified,” Cali says. “I had to work really hard to become confident in myself.”

Cali Dooley

Through four years of theatre and choir at Peninsula High School, Cali steadily pushed herself outside of her comfort zone. She took on increasingly challenging acting roles, contributed behind the scenes as head of the hair department for theatre productions, and eventually earned one of her biggest goals: being cast as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde during her senior year.

“I have worked hard and pushed myself for four years to get a lead role,” she says. “Now I’m living a dream I wasn’t sure would happen.”

Beyond theater, Cali became a respected leader within Peninsula’s choir program, serving on Choir Council for three years and mentoring younger students as a teacher assistant for freshman choir classes. Teachers and classmates alike recognized her ability to create welcoming spaces for others — especially students struggling with confidence or anxiety similar to her own.

One of the most important turning points in Cali’s life came after experiencing a panic attack during her freshman year at Peninsula. With support from her family, teachers, and older sister, Cali gradually learned how to advocate for herself and regain confidence that anxiety had once taken away.

“Anxiety and ADD don’t define me,” she says. “They helped me understand what it feels like to struggle and how important it is to support others.”

Outside of performing arts, Cali has also participated in Unified Sports, choir leadership, and volunteer work throughout her high school years. After graduation, she plans to attend cosmetology school, where she hopes to continue expressing creativity while helping others feel confident in themselves.

“I want to be a positive light to people around me,” Cali says. “And hopefully inspire people to never give up.”