Q: In what grade are you currently enrolled?

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

Q: What is your favorite subject? Why?

A: My favorite subject is either Advanced Placement World History or Advanced Placement Biology. I love the biological sciences, so being able to learn about them more extensively is interesting to me. However, I have found that I love learning about the development of the world and human population. Both subjects explore the content in a way that is both fun and interesting. I owe my interest to my teachers.

Q: Have you received any special awards or recognition?

A: I was inducted into National Honor Society in my sophomore year. Additionally, my soccer team won the Karl Rosebusch Fair Play Award this year. The award is given to a boys and girls soccer team each year from the Lehigh Valley Soccer Officials based on the team’s attitude/foul count during games. The other team captains and myself accepted the award at the officials’ banquet this year.

Q: Are you involved in any extracurricular activities?

A: Yes! I am a member of the girls soccer team, girls basketball team, president of Model United Nations, class advisory secretary, vice president of National Honor Society, producer for the Salisbury Service Electric channel, and a member of student government. I also volunteer regularly at St. Luke’s University Hospital and Cedarbrook Nursing Home.

Q: What is your next goal after high school?

A: I plan to attend college with a major in neuroscience. I am not sure where I will be attending college yet because I am waiting to hear back from a few places. Hopefully after undergrad, I will attend graduate school to continue working toward my doctorate. I hope to become a neurosurgeon one day.

Q: What do you consider your biggest challenge to date?

A: My biggest challenge so far has definitely been finding myself. Up until my junior year, I had no clue what I truly wanted to do in the future, what I truly loved. In those three years of high school, it often felt stressful because I didn’t know what my true passion was. After many long talks with supportive teachers, friends and family, I began exploring my interests. They helped me to be less stressed about the process and they also provided me with resources. I found that I loved psychology and the way that the brain works, so I decided I wanted to go into that field in the future.

Q: For what would you like to be remembered?

A: In both high school and life, I would like to be remembered as being a caring person. Above all else, I value my relationships with my friends and family. I try to have a positive impact on my other peers, teachers or even strangers. I believe that in the time we have on earth, we should make the best possible impact on others. Not everybody can be famous or be remembered for doing an amazing feat, but we can be remembered for being kind – the next best thing. I would be satisfied knowing that I helped others, supported others or cared for others with my time.

Q: Who is in your family?

A: My mom’s name is Barb, my stepfather’s name is Kevin, my father’s name is Joe and my sister’s name is Dana. We are currently raising two seeing eye dogs for the Seeing Eye Program and their names are Logan and Inu. In the future, they will become service dogs.

Q: Whom do you admire? Why?

A: I have always admired my grandma, who recently passed. She was a single mother who lost her husband to a brain aneurysm and also had to raise three kids. She was also a breast cancer survivor. I have always looked up to her because of her ability to be both strong and compassionate. I always knew I had a friend, or a support system, because of her. She showed me kindness, unconditional love and selflessness while also being one of the strongest people I knew. I keep her in mind every single day.

Q: Do you have any advice for your peers?

A: My advice would be to enjoy every single moment... always. I didn’t realize how fast time moved until I was applying to colleges, or playing my last high school soccer game or counting down the days until graduation. We have to appreciate every single moment because they are gone before we know it. In the blink of an eye, some of the best moments pass. Appreciating the present makes missing the past much easier.