Q. In what grade are you currently enrolled?

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

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

A. My parents are Ralph and Diane Feldmann. I have two younger siblings, Lia and Ryan. We have a dog named Candie and two cats, Bumper and Felix.

Q. What is your favorite subject? Why?

A. My favorite subject this year is psychology because I love learning about how our brains work and why people do the things they do.

Q. Have you received any special awards or recognition?

A. I have been on the honor roll every year of high school. I also am a part of National Honor Society and I received the Excellence in Latin Award my sophomore and junior years.

Q. Are you involved in any extracurricular activities? How has being involved in these organizations impacted your high school experience?

A. I have been working at Sacred Heart Senior Living for all four years of my high school experience as a dietary aid. I am just there on the weekends this year, but it was my first job and where I truly learned all of my people skills for professional situations. I work with dementia and Alzheimer’s patients, which is not easy, but they have taught me so much. I also work four days a week after school at a local day care, Creation Play Station. I absolutely love working there; it is something to look forward to everyday. I want to go into the education field, so spending that much time with children has had such a huge impact on me. I’ve gained so much experience and helpful skills for my future career, like problem solving, quick thinking, creativity, patience etc. and has only solidified what I want to do for a living.

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

A. My biggest challenge to date would probably be balancing my school life, home life, work life and social life, while still having time to myself. As much as I love my job, I often come home exhausted only to be faced with hours of homework and studying, just to get up at 6 a.m. the next say to do it all again.

Q. What is your next goal after high school?

A. I am planning to go to West Chester University to get my degree in elementary education.

Q. Whom do you admire? Why?

A. I admire my parents for everything they’ve accomplished in life. They grew up in a tiny town in the Poconos and after graduating college they moved down here away from their families to find jobs. My dad helped to start and run multiple companies and my mom is an accountant. They both have instilled the concept of hard work in me and that nothing will just be handed to me. That’s why I got a job at the age of 14 and became so independent. I will always admire their work ethic and all they’ve done for our family.

Q. For what would you like to be remembered?

A. Because I am going to be a teacher, I honestly just want kids to enjoy school as much as possible. If I can make even one student excited to come to school who wasn’t before and feel motivated to learn something, then I will have done my job. I loved elementary school and that can be contributed largely to some of the amazing teachers I had.

Q. Do you have any advice for your peers?

A. Do what makes you happy and works the best for you and your lifestyle. You don’t have to be involved in three sports and five clubs and all honors classes and everything our school has to offer. It’s good to get involved, but only do the things you truly enjoy and do your best to make some time for yourself before you burn out. It’s better to put a huge amount of effort and passion into one or two things than try to stretch your energy between 10 things you’re not really happy doing, just to look good on a college application or make someone else happy.