Q. In what grade are you currently enrolled?

A. I graduated from Emmaus High School in June.

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

A. I come from a divorced and blended family, meaning I have quite a few family members and pets. My mom’s name is Jill and my stepdad’s name is Ernesto. My dad’s name is Joe and my stepmom’s name is Tara. I have six siblings, three sisters and three brothers, between both households. My sisters are Kayla-Lynn, Jocelyn and Ava. My brothers are Lucas, Jayden and Ernesto. I have three dogs, three cats and a bunny between the two households.

Q. What was your favorite subject? Why?

A. My favorite subject in high school was Spanish. After this year, I will have taken five years of Spanish and plan to continue learning the language in college. Personally, I enjoy learning the language and the cultural aspects of the class, but I’ve also found that the teacher for any language class makes a big difference.

Q. Have you received any special awards or recognition?

A. I am a member of National Honor Society. I was on the Principals Honor Roll all four years of high school, received Academic Excellence awards each year and recently received my honors medal I wore at graduation. As an incoming freshman at Syracuse University this fall, I was named a Leadership Scholar at the Whitman School of Management.

Q. Were you involved in any extracurricular activities? How did COVID-19 impact these activities?

A. I have been very active in three main areas, playing volleyball, doing volunteer work and working and fundraising for the Jamaica Christian School of the Deaf. I began playing volleyball in seventh grade and joined a club volleyball team in eighth grade. I continued to play each year and found a real love for this sport. I also love volunteering my time to help others. As part of National Honor Society, I volunteered at various local community events over the years. I also spent time raising money and planning for a mission trip to Jamaica. Starting in eighth grade, I spent one week a year at the School for the Deaf in Jamaica working on improvement projects including painting, spackling, pouring concrete, building a fence and basketball court, fixing bathrooms, and more. Unfortunately, COVID-19 put a stop to travel in and out of Jamaica so I was not able to go during my junior or senior year. It also cut my sophomore volleyball season short and forced us to wear masks for practice and tournaments for the majority of my junior season.

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

A. COVID-19 created an instant break from the regular routine of in-person learning. I was taking advanced courses and had enrolled in my first two AP classes, AP Physics and AP World History. Although I seemed to adapt well to online learning and classes, I found myself needing to find new ways to get the help I needed, especially for AP Physics. Not seeing your teacher in person, not being able to lean over to a friend and ask a clarifying question or even hear conversations in the classroom about assignments or topics completely changed how I was learning. I found physics to be a tough subject and recognized quickly that my typical study habits were not working. I am a more quiet student and asking for help doesn’t come easily to me. This was a big growth year for me. I learned how to advocate for myself, both with my parents and with my teachers and to move beyond my comfort zone to adapt when what I am doing isn’t working.

Q. What is your next goal after high school?

A. I will be attending the Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University in upstate New York. My goal is to study business and continue furthering my knowledge of the Spanish language while maintaining the academic standard I’ve set for myself. I look forward to enjoying college life, participating in student activities and cheering on my school at sporting events.

Q. Whom do you admire? Why?

A. I admire both of my parents. They’ve taught me to enjoy the little things in life: the moments spent with friends and family, the beauty in nature and the significance of having pictures to look back at.

Q. For what would you like to be remembered?

A. I would like to be remembered for my hard work throughout my schooling, as well as my dedication to being kind to everyone. I am patient and found a love for philanthropy and giving back to others.

Q. Do you have any advice for your peers?

A. I encourage my peers to have fun and find joy in all things. I know everyone says high school will go by quickly, and honestly, it did. If sports are your thing then try out for a team or go to the games, if you’re social go to dances and other events, if you’re musical join an ensemble, if academics are important to you, there are so many clubs and ways to get involved. Do what makes you happy, find the people that will cheer you on and don’t waste time worrying about what may or may not happen. I know too well how worry can steal your joy and potentially ruin a good time. Additionally, I’d like to stress the importance of advocating for yourself. Over the last few years, I learned how important it is to be able to ask for help when I need it, whether help is necessary at school or in my personal life. There are always people out there who want to help you and see you succeed so it’s important to lean on them when you’re struggling.