Q. Who are the members of your family: parents, siblings and pets?

A. My dad Barry, stepmom Jane, older brother Vlad and little brother Leo.

Q. What do you most enjoy about being a senior at Emmaus High School?

A. The best thing about senior year is being at the top of the chain, knowing that I have my future ahead of me, knowing that my life as an adult is finally coming and getting senior benefits (parking space, early out, the trips/activities).

Q. What is your favorite subject? Why?

A. My favorite class is and will always be languages – specifically German. I am in AP German and have been learning the language since I was 10. Shout out to Herr Bis – he is a great teacher and he makes learning the language enjoyable, even in boring areas. I plan to minor in the language. I have taken it all five years that I could.

Q. Have you received any special awards or recognition?

A. Honor roll, member of National Honor Society, member of German Honor Society, Penn State German Day award in spelling (first place).

Q. What are your favorite extracurricular activities?

A. Diving. I work as a youth gymnastics coach for the East Penn Children’s Fitness Academy LLC., I am in German Club, I am a member of “ETV,” the school’s broadcasting station which we run morning announcements through and I anchor and do current events. This often takes me out into the community to create packages and film after school.

Q. What is your next goal after high school?

A. My goal is to go to college. Most likely a private liberal arts institution. I know that I want to work with children or teens. I want to either be a teacher or a lawyer and work as perhaps a child advocate or something along those lines.

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

A. Trying to figure out who I am as a person, where I fit in and what I want to do with my life in order to benefit whatever community I am a part of is a challenge.

Q. For what would you like to be remembered?

A. I want to be remembered as the guy who brought the school the news. The person who wasn’t afraid to be who he wanted to be. The person who could lift anyone’s spirits and be a reach out to people who were struggling or having an off day.

Q. Whom do you admire?

A. I admire all of my teachers. Every single one that I had in high school. Even if I had one that I didn’t connect with, each taught me so much about the curriculum each was passionate about, but also life. I admire my little brother Leo. He is three and has pushed through the recovery of multiple open heart surgeries. I admire my brother Vlad who is serving in the U.S. Navy. I admire so many people – too many to list actually. Everyone overcomes their own challenges and that in itself is admirable.

Q. Do you have any advice for your peers?

A. My advice for my peers is this: be the best person you can be. It doesn’t matter if you weren’t the perfect student – I wasn’t. Be who you want to be and don’t let anyone put you down for that. Every single person has a role and place in a community. Stay open minded and always keep the thought of a brighter future in your mind.