What are your post-high school plans?
I will be attending Loyola University Chicago and studying biology, with an emphasis on ecology.
What is the most important thing you learned in high school?
The most important thing I’ve learned is that you might have no one to reach out for assistance at certain times, and it is up to you to pick yourself back up and keep moving forward.
What is your favorite high school memory?
My favorite high school memory is competing with my Science Olympiad team at regionals, and having a nice balance of competing tests, but also goofing off in the home room during our downtime.
What was your favorite class or learning experience?
My favorite class was AP U.S. History with Mr. Allen, because I not only learned class-specific material, but also the concept of improving myself after a bad test or grade.
Share your best advice for incoming freshmen:
Make sure you set good habits early on. It sounds cliche, but maintaining good habits inside and outside of school helps you enjoy your time as a high school student.
What or who do you acknowledge for your academic success, and ranking in the top 2 percent of your senior class?
My teachers, family, and friends helped me along the way, but in critical moments, it was up to me to push myself forward and put myself in positions of success. That being said, the little things such as clubs, hobbies, and the weekends allowed me to recharge and maintain my achievements.
What life lessons or observations have you gained about yourself, and the world, during the 2020-21 school year?
Senior year mixed with the pandemic hit me like a brick wall, and I realized a lot of people only had the time to focus on themselves and their own challenges. As a result, I realized I had to become more independent and set small goals to maintain a controllable life. But this past year has taught me that I cannot prepare for every challenge that could be thrown at me, which is why I am still striving to put myself in a position where I can be motivated every day.
