Q. In what grade are you currently enrolled?

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

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

A. My mom is Carmen Esquea. She is the best mom in the world. I have a Maltese dog named Lucky.

Q. What is your favorite subject? Why?

A. My favorite subject is chemistry because I like to hypothesize, test and analyze unconventional ideas. An accurate marker of my interest in chemistry is I created and founded my high school’s first chemistry club, EHS ChemClub. My objective for ChemClub is to share my interest with others in ways they can relate to themselves, hence our club motto: “Chemistry is Everywhere.”

Q. Have you received any special awards or recognition?

A. In ninth grade, I received the Academic Excellence Award. In 10th grade, I received the Academic Excellence Award. In 11th grade, I received the National Hispanic Recognition Program For Outstanding Academic Achievement, the AP Scholar with Distinction Award, the Academic Excellence in Literature Award and the Academic Excellence Award. In 12th grade so far, I have received The Woman’s Club of Emmaus Girl of the Month for science and participated in Lehigh University’s High School Scholars Program. Additionally, I am a member of National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society.

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

A. I am involved in several extracurricular activities. I am the president and founder of our school’s Chemistry Club, I am the co-president of the EHS Spanish Club and EHS Red Cross Club, I am an officer in the EHS Student Government Association, I am the president of the EHS Activism Club, I am a translator and mentor for the EHS New Student Mentoring Program and I am the vice president of the EHS Economics and Investment Club.

Outside of school, I am a St. Luke’s volunteer, a clinical observer for the Lehigh Valley Health Network and work part-time at Hollister. These organizations have impacted my high school experience because they have helped me figure out who I am and my interests.

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

A. My biggest challenge to date was AP Physics 1 in 11th grade. Since physics differed from any other class I had ever taken, I had to adjust how I thought about certain problems. However, after long nights of studying and working away at book problems, I ended up doing well in the class.

Q. What is your next goal after high school?

A. My goal after high school is to continue trying my best every day. I plan to become a nurse practitioner.

Q. If you could spend an evening conversing with a historically significant person, whom would you choose? Why?

A. If I could spend an evening conversing with a historically significant person, I would pick Marie Curie. She showed the world that women do belong in the world of science.

Q. For what would you like to be remembered?

A. I want to be remembered for my curiosity. I love to ask questions.

Q. Do you have any advice for your peers?

A. My advice for my peers is to try new things and be an active member of your community. If I had not tried new things or been an active member of my community, I would not be who I am today or have had the amazing experiences I have today. I like to think that you do not need to be great at everything, but you can at least make an effort.