Q: What colleges have you applied to?
A: I applied to Bowling Green State University, University of Louisville, and Ohio University.
Q: What’s your dream school?
I don’t have a dream school in mind, but throughout my college visits, I’ve looked for schools that have support systems built around their students. I’ve also always wanted to live somewhere where there is a lot to do outside of academics.
Q: What do you plan to do after high school?
A: After high school, I plan on getting my bachelor’s in systems and industrial engineering.
Q: What inspired you to pursue that field?
A: In fourth grade, we did our circuits unit, and I fell in love with it. Originally, I wanted to be an electrical engineer, but then I decided that I wanted a less technical job and wanted to work on the business side of engineering. Industrial and systems engineering fits my goals perfectly!
Q: How has your experience been at Lakota?
A: I’ve loved going to school at Lakota! I moved here during 6th grade and was very anxious about making new friends and getting used to a new district. Lakota made it an easy adjustment, and everyone was so nice. My favorite part about Lakota is all of the specialized classes, like the engineering, medical, and art classes offered. These have been super helpful in finding what I want to do after high school.
Q: Have there any teachers that have made a big impact on you?
A: Mr. Hummer structured his class in a way I have never had a teacher do before. He made it so that learning became more important than grades. That’s what school should be about!
Q: If you could take one class again, what class would it be?
A: Honors English 11 was really fun for me! I loved having Mrs. Naylor as a teacher, and she made the curriculum very interactive for her students. I definitely miss getting to go to her class every day.
Q: Did you ever lose motivation in high school?
A: 100%; finding motivation has always been especially challenging for me. I am a master procrastinator and have been working on ways to try and stop these habits.
Q: How did you combat the loss of motivation?
A: I love visualizing what I want my life to look like after school. I know that every grade counts and that there is never going to be a good time to get something done. Remembering what I am working for and not waiting for motivation to hit me have been the most helpful tools. It is up to me to stay disciplined and get stuff done.
Q: In 10 years, what do you want your life to look like?
A: In ten years, I hope that I have traveled to all of the places I have wanted to go and found a job that I know I will be able to work my way up in. Being able to provide for myself and being happy within my day-to-day routine will be very important.
Q: Do you plan to stay in Ohio or move?
A: Immediately after college, I hope to move around. Exploring places in the U.S. and in other countries has always been a goal of mine. Hopefully, through that experience, I will find a place I am comfortable living in for a long time. If I happen to find that Ohio is that place, I wouldn’t be mad about it!
Q: How has high school changed you?
High school has taught me a lot about who I am and how to interact with so many different types of people. I have learned where my priorities lay and what type of environment I want to surround myself in.
Q: What did you want to do for work as a kid?
As a kid, I really wanted to become an electrical engineer for the Marine Corps. Unfortunately, there have been some circumstantial things that have happened in my life that no longer make this a possibility for me, but I have always wanted to make an impact on those around me. The military seemed like a great way to do that!
Q: What’s your favorite childhood memory?
I grew up in a cul-de-sac with lots of other kids around me. We were all best friends and spent tons of time together. My favorite memories were our Fourth of July celebrations. My best friend would come down to be with us, and her mom would always bring banana pudding; we (the adults) would set off our own fireworks; we’d have tons of food, sparklers, and so much more! At the end of the night, way past our bedtimes, we’d watch the fireworks show thrown at Monroe Community Park from our driveways. It was always a perfect day.
Q: What was your favorite age growing up?
A: I really loved kindergarten, so maybe age 5 or 6. Life was way less stressful, and finger painting was fun!
Q: What’s your favorite high school memory?
I love getting ready for dances with my friends! It’s super fun to get glammed up and go out to dinner with the people you love.
Q: Who do you feel most supported you throughout high school?
A: Me. I am so stubbornly independent and rarely ask for help. I got myself through every homework assignment, every piece of drama, and every tough time throughout high school
Q: Is there any wild, highly unlikely dream you have that you still wish would come true?
I would love to open up an animal rescue center. However, I don’t think my future career would ever allow me the time needed to dedicate myself to that dream.
Q: What advice do you have to give underclassmen?
A: BE OPEN TO CHANGE! Change is scary, but there is no way around it. If you spend so much of your time trying to prevent it, you are just wasting your time. Your friends are going to change, you are going to change, and your life is going to change. Facing this change head-on is the best way to get through it.
Q: Do you feel scared about moving on from high school?
I don’t think the scaredness aspect has hit me yet. I am still working on getting through my senior year! After graduation, it’ll probably hit me. As of right now, I am excited for a change of pace.
Q: How would you compare high school in real life vs. in the media?
A: I think the media only represents one view of life during high school. Everyone has a different experience, and most of the time it is nothing like what is exaggerated on social media and in movies. My personal experience with school itself was overall pretty good. However, even my best friends would probably answer that differently.
Q: Do you feel high school would have been different without social media?
A: Freshman year would have been a lot different if freshmen didn’t have social media telling them what high school is supposed to be like. I found that a lot of freshmen are trying to “prove themselves” and act a lot older than they are. This comes from social media influence. However, the older we got, the more this calmed down and the less of an impact social media had on us.
Q: If you could have gone through high school in any time period, what would you choose?
I like where I am now! I think there have been challenges throughout every time period, but I particularly admire how accepting my generation has become. I love being friends with people from all different backgrounds and meeting people with all different personalities. It has made me such a well-rounded person and has been an amazing experience!
Q: What has high school made you learn about yourself?
A: I have learned what my definition of happiness is. I know that grades are important to me but spending time with friends is more important. Learning how to have a balance in my life has made me much happier, and this is an ongoing lesson for me.
Q: If you could go back and change one thing, what would it be?
I wish I would have learned how to fail. As an honors student, it has been engraved in my brain that success is the only option. My future has always been bright, and I was expected to have things come easy for me. Good grades, athletic abilities, leadership tendencies, and so much more were always supposed to be easy for me. However, just like everyone else, I had to work for all of that. My mistakes were covered, and I never learned how to cope with my failures. If I could go back, I would try to change that. Admitting when I failed and learning that it is not a huge deal would have been so valuable for me.
