Q. In what grade are you currently enrolled?

A. I am a senior at Emmaus High School.

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

A. My mom Suzanne, my dad Joseph, brothers Nicholas and Alexzander and my dogs Gnocchi and Mable.

Q. What is your favorite subject? Why?

A. My favorite subject is English because I love to be creative. I love reading different stories and imagining what the characters are like outside of how they are described. I love journaling and all things writing. I feel like English is always an escape from reality when you get so invested in what you are reading or writing and sometimes that is nice while in school.

Q. Have you received any special awards or recognition?

A. No.

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

A. I have been involved in choir my whole life. While at EHS I have been involved in Chorale and Bella Voce. I think being in choir has really been a neat experience. I love getting to learn music from all over the world with different cultures and even signing in different languages at times. I have been able to go on so many cool trips with the choir department like Disney. I think singing at school is also a nice break in the day and gives me something to look forward to without all the high stress that comes with school.

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

A. I missed a few months of school throughout high school and I feel like nobody really ever talks about how hard it is to come back to school after being out for so long. My sophomore and junior year I missed a chunk of school due to being sick and coming back was such a struggle. Not just academically but also mentally and socially. I felt so lost coming back to school and like I had missed out on so much and what was happening. I felt like I did not fit in right with certain groups like choir for example. Trying to make up for school work while trying to keep up with current work was also extremely difficult and I was constantly stressed while trying to maintain friendships and taking care of myself too. The school really helped me out with coming back and I am very thankful for that.

Q. What is your next goal after high school?

A. I want to go to college locally and work in the mental health field. I am thinking of majoring in social work or psychology.

Q. Whom do you hope to emulate? Why?

A. I would say my mom and dad. They have been the biggest role models in my life and I aspire to be like them. They always teach me what’s right from wrong and never stop working hard. I want to be hardworking in my future and never give up despite what is happening. They encourage me everyday to move forward.

Q. For what would you like to be remembered?

A. I just want to be remembered as a kind person. I think kindness is one of the most important traits a person can have.

Q. Do you have any advice for your peers?

A. I would say my advice to everyone is to just show up. Be there for yourself and others. It is super important to be there for yourself though, because at the end of the day it is just you. I think as a society we all should work on taking care of ourselves more and especially when you are a teenager, you have to have fun in life. Make sure you have a good balance between school and outside life. Ask for help if you need it. There is no shame in that and there are so many people in and out of school who would do anything to help you.