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

A. My mother is Oksana Rakovska, my father is Andrew Rakowsky and my brother is Alexander Rakowsky. We also have a cat named Grey Bear.

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

A. I enjoy having more freedom and more opportunities open to me, especially in my choice of classes and leadership positions in my extracurriculars. Even though this comes with more responsibilities, it is a rewarding feeling to be able to make my own decisions and find my unique voice.

Q. What is your favorite subject? Why?

A. My favorite subject at the moment is advanced placement environmental science because I believe that everyone can learn something valuable from this class. I am passionate about preserving the environment and I have become more aware of the impact humans have on the earth.

Q. Have you received any special awards or recognition?

A. I have received Principal’s Honor Roll and underclassmen awards throughout my years in high school. I have also been inducted into National Honor Society and received a bronze medal in the National Spanish Language Exam.

Q. What are your favorite extracurricular activities?

A. I enjoy being involved in the track and field team in the spring and engaging in community service through the Interact Club. I am also secretary of the astronomy club and help out in the production of the Collage Arts and Literary Magazine at the high school.

Q. What is your next goal after high school?

A. I have not yet decided on which college I will attend, but I hope to spend the next four years majoring in biology. I hope to become more educated in other fields as well and spend more time traveling.

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

A. As an immigrant, I have faced challenges in adjusting to life in the United States. One of my biggest challenge is living far away from my extended family and not being closely connected with my grandparents.

Q. For what would you like to be remembered?

A. I would like to be remembered for my generosity and passion for helping others around me. I want to use my privileges and abilities in the United States to help give back to people who are less fortunate.

Q. Whom do you admire? Why?

A. I admire my grandmother because she has always embodied a confident and strong female leader in her community. She always stood up for what she believed in even if her ideas made her stand out from the crowd. I hope to follow in her footsteps and become a leader in the issues that I am passionate about.

Q. Do you have any advice for your peers?

A. My advice for my peers is to keep an open mind and strive to treat everyone with respect. I believe that if this mindset is cultivated in my generation, it would help make the world a better place.