Q: What grade are you in?

A: I am in the 12th grade at Emmaus High School.

Q: What is your favorite subject? Why?

A: My favorite subject is child development, because seeing and learning how children grow and develop into young adults is fascinating. Knowing that I can choose to impact a child for the better in that small time period, and potentially change the way they see the world, gives me a very strong sense of being.

Q: Have you received any special awards or recognition?

A: Yes. So far I have been recognized as the French student of the month for November 2015, along with being awarded a number of different academic awards throughout my time at EHS.

Q: Are you involved in any extracurricular activities?

A: I am the secretary of the Gay Straight Alliance at Emmaus and I’m an active member of our National Honor Society.

Q: What is your next goal after high school?

A: My next goal after high school is to enroll in Marywood University as a full-time undergraduate for both early childhood and special education majors.

Q: What would you say your biggest challenge has been so far?

A: My biggest challenge throughout high school was realizing I’m perfectly fine the way I am and I couldn’t let anyone tell me otherwise. Learning to accept help from my family and friends with things I was struggling with was hard to do, but I’ve overcome that point in my life.

Q: What do you want to be remembered for?

A: I want to be remembered as someone who listened to other people and tried to give advice as needed. I’d like people to remember me as someone to laugh with.

Q: Who is in your family?

A: My mother Arlene, my father Chris and my little sister Christina.

Q: Do you have someone you look up to?

A: Believe it or not, I actually look up to my little sister. She may only be 14, but she’s had to deal with a whole lot more than any other person I know and somehow she’s still an amazing student and friend. She’s always working hard and I know she’ll go places I could never hope to reach. As long as she’s doing her best at what she wants to do, I’ve done my job. She’s been my inspiration since about third grade and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Q: Do you have any advice for your peers?

A: The advice I would give to my peers is this: Worry about what makes you the happiest, and focus on that; don’t bring other people down for doing the same. Everyone has different opinions, so try to be open minded.