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

A. I am an only child, so my parents are Mamiko and Brian. I also consider my family to include my martial arts community and my best friend, Kaylee.

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

A. The best thing about my senior year is the realization that the future is completely up to you and that you are in complete control over the rest of your life.

Q. What is your favorite subject? Why?

A. Literature. I am fascinated by poetry’s ability to capture the human condition from so many diverse angles and I enjoy learning more about myself and the world through it.

Q. Have you received any special awards or recognition?

A. During my time at EHS I have been a part of the Principal’s Honor Roll. I have earned the Academic Excellence award, the Excellence in History award and the Excellence in Geometry award. I was also named Extraordinary Science Student and I am a member of the French Honor Society.

Q. What are your favorite extracurricular activities?

A. I am a fourth degree black sash in Kung Fu at Lehigh Valley Martial Arts. I love practicing Kung Fu with my family and teaching the kids in the Little Ninjas class (3-5 year olds). Kung Fu exercises the mind and body as well as the soul, which has helped me integrate balance into my life. I also play the mellophone in the EHS marching band and volunteer at the Lower Macungie Library.

Q. What is your next goal after high school?

A. My goal after I graduate is to help others, especially children. Whether it be in education or the medical field, I want to find ways to help kids navigate through life.

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

A. I believe the biggest challenge I have faced is to understand my own existence. I have come to realize that it isn’t as important to define oneself concretely – since that denies any prospect of change – as it is to accept the fluidity of identity that comes with each new experience and moment of existence.

Q. For what would you like to be remembered?

A. I would like to be remembered for my kindness.

Q. Whom do you admire? Why?

A. Someone who I admire is Hayao Miyazaki, a Japanese animated film maker. His movies romanticize the simplest aspects of life and remind me of the important things.

Q. Do you have any advice for your peers?

A. Let it go.