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. R (dad), Kami (mom), Kera (sister) and my three siamese cats Sweety, Nugget and Sassy.

Q. What is your favorite subject? Why?

A. I would say my favorite subject is physics because I love putting math into motion. My teacher, Mr. Ohl, is an amazing teacher. He makes learning fun and I really feel I hold a strong knowledge in this class because of his teaching style and his love for the subject.

Q. Have you received any special awards or recognition?

A. I have received the following awards and recognition:

•The Morning Call’s All-Area Girls Runner of the Year 2021

•East Penn Press Female Athlete of the Year 2021-2022

•MVP Female Cross Country Award 2019, 2020, 2021

•MVP Female Track & Field Award 2022

•EPC All-Area Team Cross Country (1st team) 2019, 2020, 2021

•EPC All-Area Team Track & Field 2021, 2022

•Emmaus High School Indoor Track Record Member for the Girls 4x800m Relay 2020

•PIAA AAA State Cross Country Qualifier 2019, 2020, 2021

•PIAA AAA State Cross Country Individual Medalist (20th place) 2021

•PIAA AAA State Track & Field Qualifier 2021, 2022 (4x800m relay, 1600 m, 3200 m)

•PIAA AAA State Swimming Qualifier 2022 200 Medley Relay

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

A. As far as athletics, I am a member of the EHS cross-country team, swim and dive team, track and field team and our winter track indoor club. Additionally, I am a member of National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society and I was also part of Chorale.

I volunteer when I am able at various events such as the St. Luke’s Marathon kids races, Healthy Series 5K races and the Women’s Breast Cancer 5K.

Participating in these activities is hard work, but I love every minute of it. I love being with my teammates in all three sports. Being “busy” keeps me accountable and keeps me focused on being the best I can be.

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

A. My biggest challenge to date was going through years of treatment and surgeries to correct two of my missing front permanent teeth. I couldn’t speak clearly and I went through years of speech therapy. I had to wait until high school to get the surgeries and treatment, which I just recently completed. One of the surgeries was taking bone grafts from the roof of my mouth and placing the bone in the area where I eventually had teeth implants placed. I can say that it feels really great to smile again!

Q. What is your next goal after high school?

A. I plan on running cross-country and track and field at a college that fits me both academically and athletically.

Q. Whom do you admire? Why?

A. I admire those who put time and energy into helping others without looking for credit or attention. One Christmas Eve, my mom packed us up in the car and we drove around taping $20 bills on gas pumps located in lower income areas with notes of encouragement. My mom’s saying is to “Let Go, Let God,” to remind me to keep focus on the important things in life, to do good and help people in any way I can and to work hard but realize that I can’t always control things that happen in life.

Q. For what would you like to be remembered?

A. I hope I am remembered as someone who genuinely cares about people and as someone who works hard.

Q. Do you have any advice for your peers?

A. My advice for my peers would be to keep life in perspective and take the time to make decisions that will make your future self proud.