An overachiever is someone who achieves success over and above the standard or expected level, especially at an early age, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary.

Although the definition fits her precisely, Decatur High School senior Megan Hestir refuses to admit she’s anything special.

“I don’t think what I do is abnormal. Everybody’s busy,” Hestir said.

But not quite as busy as her. Hestir, 17, earns a 3.91 grade point average at Decatur High School while taking Advanced Placement courses and participating in the jazz band and wind ensemble. She also works three part-time jobs.

Regular shifts at Century Theaters and the West Campus Music store in Federal Way add up to about 30 hours per week for Hestir. She also works on-call as a food server for a catering company.

In spite of her filled planner, which is completely void of white space and highlighted in different

colors, Hestir finds time to do her homework, go to the gym three times each week and fill out countless scholarship applications.

Hestir plans to study business at Western Washington University next year. She will pay for her education with savings, loans and hopefully scholarships, she said.

Hestir chooses to work three jobs because she likes to earn her own money and be independent, she said. She buys her own clothing, makeup and gas — and she’s working on paying off her car. She often buys her own groceries because she prefers healthier food than her family typically eats. She’s putting money away for college, and she will pay all the expenses associated with her senior year in high school this year, including prom and senior grad night.

Although her parents never told her she would be required to pay for those things herself, Hestir said it makes her feel good to do so. She noted that she is the oldest of four children, and her family needs money to pay for household necessities.

“I feel like it’s a burden to ask for stuff that I don’t need,” she said. “If I do it myself, then I can do it and not feel bad about it… I don’t want to be a financial burden and it’s just easier for everyone if I do it myself.”

In addition to working for financial independence, Hestir simply enjoys keeping busy, she said.

“I like having a purpose to each day,” she said. “If I don’t have something to do I get bored and lethargic.”

Her alarm goes off at 5:30 a.m. on school days. She pushes snooze twice. On Saturday mornings, she allows herself the luxury of sleeping in until 8:30 a.m. or 9 a.m. She watches one-and-a-half hours of television each week including the shows “How I Met Your Mother” and “Grey’s Anatomy.” But that’s it for TV.

“I don’t like sitting and watching TV for four hours,” Hestir said, adding that she’s not a big fan of video games either.

Despite Hestir’s busy schedule, she still finds time to be a normal teenager, she said.

“I go to football games with the band and I go to school dances. I’m pretty normal in that respect,” she said.

Hestir said she plans on slowing down a bit in college, where she will only work one job in addition to her studies.

After she settles into her career, Hestir said she plans to have a family and will work only one full-time job. She hopes her hard work now will pay off and she will be able to earn a good salary, perhaps as an accountant.

“I’ll just have one job as an adult,” she said. “I don’t think I’ll need more than that.”

Contact Margo Hoffman: mhoffman@fedwaymirror.com or (253) 925-5565.