Q: What grade are you in?

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

Q: What is your favorite subject? Why?

A: My favorite subject is mathematics. All throughout my schooling career, math has come to me naturally and I love “playing around” with numbers. I’m extremely thankful Salisbury brought back a statistics course to its curriculum, as I am currently enrolled in it and I have a strong passion for it. Messing around with data and analyzing it for certain purposes has always been an interest of mine and I’m finally able to explore that interest this year.

Q: Have you received any special awards or recognition?

A: Yes. I am a state champion in boys tennis for doubles with my cousin Mason Groff, as well as a third place medalist sophomore year. I received the honor of Lehigh Valley Live Co-Tennis Player of the Year with Mason following our state title in 2016, as well as The Morning Call Co-Tennis Player of the Year. I am honored to have received a citation from the PA State House of Representatives, in particular from a good friend of my pop pop, state Rep. Daniel McNeill, D-133rd. I am a two-time district doubles champion as well as a singles finalist in 2015. I have also enjoyed success with tennis team-wise as we were District and Colonial League runner-ups my freshman and sophomore years, as well as third place recipients as a team last year. On the soccer field, I am extremely grateful to have earned my first district title in my senior season alongside all of my closest friends who I’ve been playing soccer with for over 10 years. We also ended as quarter finalists in the state tournament. Academically, I received a state medal from the PA Junior Academy of Science my freshman year, as well as a second place award at the regional Future Business Leaders of America conference for 2016-2017, which qualified my group for the state competition in Hershey in April.

Q: Are you involved in any extracurricular activities?

A: I am entering my fourth and final year on the Salisbury boys tennis team and my second year as co-captain. I also played four years of soccer on the boys varsity team. I play tennis year-round and compete in USTA tournaments across the region. I am a member of National Honor Society, FBLA, Key Club treasurer and student government.

Q: What is your next goal after high school?

A: My number one goal exiting high school is to further my education at the college level, hopefully at Lafayette College in Easton. I plan on playing on the varsity tennis team there as well, helping to make the program thrive in a tough and competitive conference. I look forward to challenging myself academically at the college level to help better prepare myself for life as an adult, following my career as a college student.

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

A: I would say the biggest challenge I have faced in my life thus far is confronting and changing my eating habits as a young kid. I used to be out of control and it hindered me from where I wanted to be athletically as I watched all of my peers excel at what they did. I finally confronted the challenge in the winter of eighth grade and ended up losing 35 pounds within nine months and transformed myself into who I am today and I’m extremely thankful I did so or else I wouldn’t be anywhere close to the person I am today.

Q: What do you want to be remembered for?

A: Looking back, I want to be remembered for being the one that would always be there to help his peers. If anyone needs help in some way, shape or form, I will always be there for them, whether it’s academically, athletically or personally. I enjoy making people smile and seeing them believe in themselves that they can do anything they put their minds to.

Q: Who is in your family?

A: My parents are John and Catherine Yurconic. I am the older of two kids, myself and my 13-year-old sister Sabrina. We also have a 7-year-old dog named Clio.

Q: Do you have someone you look up to?

A: My biggest role models are my parents, as they have taught me almost everything I know up to this point on how to be self-reliant and have a good work ethic. I look at them and the long hours they both put into their occupations, as well as having fun and socializing with others and I hope that I can someday live up to be as great as they both are and be the kind of father that’s always there for his family like my dad is to us.

Q: Do you have any advice for your peers?

A: In my eyes, the most important advice I could give to my peers is to never give up on personal goals. Failure is simply a learning experience that usually leads to further success – success that is in large quantities. Always chase your dreams no matter what people tell you and you will be rewarded in the end with something unimaginably great that you will cherish for the rest of your lives. Just don’t ever give up.