Q. In what grade are you currently enrolled?

A. I’m a senior at Emmaus High School.

Q. What is your favorite subject? Why?

A. My favorite subject has to be physics. It feels like a very pure science, where you ask a question about the universe, and then you just go out there and test it. It’s also really broad in that you can study physics and want to learn how to make buildings or what happens when you jump in a black hole. It’s fascinating from the big to the small. Also Mr. Ohl is a fantastic teacher, passionate and intelligent.

Q. Have you received any special awards or recognition?

A. A girl that I babysat for a while gave me a poster that claims I’m the best babysitter ever, so that feels pretty special. I’m also a National Merit Semifinalist and a member of National Honor Society and National Honor Latin Society.

Q. Are you involved in any extracurricular activities?

A. I’m a singer in Fermata Nowhere among other singing groups, a debate team captain and I volunteer with Big Brother Big Sister at Roosevelt Elementary School and the Pool Wildlife Sanctuary.

Q. What is your next goal after high school?

A. Of course college, but my two main goals are get out there in some kind of field research and stay happy.

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

A. Probably the transition from elementary school to middle school. There were a lot more smart people and I had to work harder and try to deal with this new social group. But I made a ton of friends and I’m really happy that I was with the people that I was.

Q. For what would you like to be remembered?

A. I’d like to be remembered as somebody who helps. Life is pretty hard, but whenever I think of the old seniors I remember a few who were really kind to me and helped me out. It’s only fair that I honor their kindness by passing it on to somebody else.

Q. Who is in your family?

A. My dad is Stephen, mom is Holly, brother is Ian Zakos and my dog is Kaiser Zakos.

Q. Whom do you admire? Why?

A. I admire Malala, Nelson Mandela and Stephen Hawking. They all faced incredible difficulties, but responded well to it and changed the world. Mandela’s incredible patience and kind heart enabled him to become president of South Africa despite the horrors of apartheid, Hawking recovered from ALS and revolutionized physics and Malala (Yousafzai), Pakistani activist, recovered from horrible sexism and a literal bullet wound to fight for women’s rights despite being only 20 years old.

Q. Do you have any advice for your peers?

A. Go to the Emmaus Bakery. Their donuts are really good, but they’re kind of large so make sure you have a large appetite or a friend to eat with. They are at 415 Chestnut St., Emmaus, PA 18049 (I wasn’t paid for this).