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. I live with my mother, Kate, my brother, Joshua and my dog, Oliver.

Q. What is your favorite subject? Why?

A. I love social studies, especially ancient history and humanities because it reminds me we are all connected and we started from the same place. Learning about people from thousands of years ago shows us how alike we truly are, even separated by hundreds of generations.

Q. Have you received any special awards or recognition?

A. I won the College Board National Hispanic Recognition Award, I’m in National Honor Society and National Spanish Honor Society.

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

A. Throughout high school I’ve been involved in Debate Team, Collage Club, Astronomy Club, Interact Club, Theater, Coding Club and The Stinger. These clubs were diverse enough that they gave me an opportunity to meet all types of people and find people with similar interests. It also allowed me to explore hobbies I wouldn’t have otherwise pursued and each one gave me unique and memorable experiences.

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

A. The hardest thing I had to overcome was knee surgery recovery. I spent my entire summer in recovery and it was extremely difficult and painful. Imagine relearning to walk at that age, when everybody is running around and enjoying the heat. Yet, I still think it was an important experience that taught me patience and struggle. It was really hard at the time, but now I just look back on it as a great learning experience.

Q. What is your next goal after high school?

A. I plan to go to college and study abroad so I can practice my Spanish. I’d love to see the world and get a chance to experience life first hand.

Q. Whom do you hope to emulate? Why?

A. I would love to become the next John Green. He wrote a few books that were famous but didn’t get sucked into that celebrity lifestyle. He remains humble and uses his time and money to raise funds for charity and enjoy time with his family in a comfortable home. That’s exactly the kind of life I want.

Q. For what would you like to be remembered?

A. I would like to be remembered for bringing about change. Even if I just inspired one person, I would be perfectly happy with that. Change is the only constant in this world, and I’d like to be a part of it.

Q. Do you have any advice for your peers?

A. Nowadays, we judge ourselves so harshly. We hold ourselves to such high standards and I think it’s so important that we give ourselves a break. There is so much to look forward to in this world, and there’s not enough time to look back on our mistakes and hold onto them like stones. Just keep moving forward, there’s so much world to see.