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

A. I live with my father Michael, my mother Patricia, my twin brother Jeremy and my adorable dog Kirby.

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

A. My favorite part about being a senior was seeing where both all of my friends and I will go in the next chapter of our lives. All of us have worked so hard over these 12 years of schooling to get where we are now and it excites me to watch my classmates plan for their futures.

Q. What was your favorite subject? Why?

A. My favorite subject has always been history. It fascinates me how events all throughout human history overlap and how politics, war, innovation and the various different -isms of philosophy have forged the world we all live in now.

Q. Have you received any special awards or recognition?

A. I am a member of both National Honor Society and World Language Honor Society (for Spanish) and have won the Best Witness Award for the PA State Mock Trial Competition four times.

Q. What were your favorite extracurricular activities?

A. I was a member of the Emmaus Debate Team since freshman year, making the varsity team three years in a row and helping the team achieve second place in the EPC divisional championship this year. As co-captain of the Mock Trial Team, I have been a witness for all four years and had the honor of being the lead witness in our team’s first-ever district championship back in February. I was also a sportscaster on ETV (Emmaus’s morning announcement program), which allowed me to connect with the entire student body through my broadcasts.

Q. What is your next goal after high school?

A. I am attending Penn State University’s Schreyer Honors College in the fall, majoring in secondary education for social studies and minoring in education policy. I hope to become a history teacher and one day hold the position of a principal or superintendent.

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

A. As a stutterer, my speech impediment is a challenge I have faced for all of my life. Sometimes it prevents me from answering questions in class and even having a simple conversation with a friend. Although it is a struggle, it has only motivated me to pursue public speaking and engage in activities such as debate, Mock Trial and theater in order to force myself to speak and overcome my challenges.

Q. For what would you like to be remembered?

A. I only wish to be remembered as a good, reliable friend. Those I care about mean the world to me and I sincerely hope that my memory brings a smile to the face of whose who remember me.

Q. Whom do you admire? Why?

A. I admire my teachers first and foremost, for they have inspired me to pursue a career in education and hopefully one day make the same impact on a child that they had on me. I would like to extend a special thank-you to Mrs. Hunter, Mr. Luckenbill, Mr. Brown and Mrs. Kuebler for all of your support and assistance over my four years of high school.

Q. Do you have any advice for your peers?

A. No matter how busy you are, no matter how complicated your schedule is, you need to make time for yourself. Take an hour or two to talk, reflect or simply do something that makes you happy. Mental health is ignored far too often in our society and I believe that everyone needs to take care of themselves and their own needs first and foremost. Everything will fall into place, just take a few deep breaths and carry on.