Q. In what grade are you currently enrolled?

A. I am currently in 12th grade at Salisbury High School.

Q. Who is in your family? Please provide the first names of your family members: parents, siblings and pets.

A. Along with my parents, Lynn and Steve, I have three siblings – Michael, Ben and Ruby – as well as an adorable goldendoodle named Henry.

Q. What is your favorite subject? Why?

A. I don’t have a specific favorite subject. STEM classes are logical and help to make sense of the world around me, but the humanities provide a chance to explore the parts of the world where there is no single correct answer. Four of my favorite classes from the past few years have been AP Calculus, Honors Physics I, Honors Anatomy and Physiology and Honors American Cultures II.

Q. Have you received any special awards or recognition?

A. I was named a National Merit Commended Scholar in October and recently won Best Delegate at Pennsylvania High Schools United Nations Conference.

Q. Are you involved in any extracurricular activities? How has COVID-19 impacted these activities?

A. I am part of the varsity cross-country team, which still ran as usual but with general social distancing requirements. We also had fewer meets, with only four regular season meets in addition to leagues and districts. The same is true for club swimming, where I practice with the Parkland Aquatic Club and we do not have any competitions for the fall season. Salisbury varsity swimming will start practicing in a few weeks, which is exciting. Debate, Model United Nations and Scholastic Scrimmage have changed to virtual competition formats. Theater is also functioning virtually and we are looking to stream a recording of our fall play in December. Tutoring and National Honor Society have proceeded as normal – just online. I would normally be rehearsing for jazz band, but virtual music is hard.

Q. What is your next goal after high school?

A. My goal after high school is to attend a four-year college or university to pursue a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience or biology.

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

A. This past spring, after quarantine started and all of my activities were quickly canceled (including the spring musical on opening night), I found I had very little motivation. It was challenging to get myself back into a routine to finish out the year. Thankfully, quarantine has shown me I am surrounded by super supportive friends and family and even when the world seems like it is falling apart, things will get better.

Q. For what would you like to be remembered?

A. I would like to be remembered as a person who was always willing to help out and be there for others.

Q. Whom do you admire? Why?

A. I admire my parents. Every day I see how dedicated they are to their work and also have appreciated more and more how much effort they put into raising myself and my siblings to always pursue our interests, have a strong sense of determination, push ourselves to but not too far past our limits and stay close as a family.

Q. Do you have any advice for your peers?

A. To my peers, I would say honest effort will always show better results than any other alternative. However, taking care of yourself should always come first without any guilt.