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 is Maryjane, my dad is Edwardo, my older sister is Ashlee, my younger sister is Alexis and my cat is Mochi.

Q. What is your favorite subject? Why?

A. My favorite subject was art or science. In art, I could express myself and my feelings. I could also work with my hands, which helped me develop into a hands-on learner. I loved science because I’m always interested in the world around me. It was also something I always found easy to understand since elementary school.

Q. Have you received any special awards or recognition?

A. Academic Excellence in ninth, 10th and 11th grades, Regional National History Day winner, Hope and Healing Juried Art Show community award winner, Service Above Self Award and The Groove’s Battle of the Bands Emcee.

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

A. Over my four years of high school, I’ve been in many different clubs. GSA (Gay Straight Alliance), National History Day, Jasper “Club,” National Art Honor Society and an alternative music group called the Groove Club. I’ve held some leadership/officer positions within these clubs. Each of these clubs expressed a part of my personality. GSA expressed my identity in the LGBTQ+ community, National History Day for my interest in history, Jasper for my strengths in projects over tests, National Art helped me express my creativity and love of art and the Groove Club helped me expand and grow my love for alternative music. Overall, these clubs helped me express myself and grow as a person. It also taught me how to be a leader and plan and take responsibility for events and things.

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

A. I think my biggest challenge came over this summer. I had lost my aunt. She and I were close. She was my best friend, my therapist and my ride or die. It was really hard processing her passing. I’m still coping, and it’s important to go day by day and focus on the good things.

Q. What is your next goal after high school?

A. Currently my plan after high school is to graduate of course and attend Penn State Berks for science.

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

A. I would spend an evening conversing with the lead singer of Queen, Freddie Mercury. I would want to talk to him because he has made huge impacts on music, gender roles and the LGBTQ+ community. It would be interesting to get to know him, his thought process for music and his opinions on how he influenced rock ‘n’ roll.

Q. For what would you like to be remembered?

A. I’d like to be remembered for my constant effort. I tend to put 110% of myself into the things I’m passionate about. For example, Emmaus High School has a project-based learning program called the Jasper Learning Initiative. I’ve been a part of this program for four years and I’ve dedicated numerous hours promoting and helping the program. I would do middle school presentations, incoming freshmen presentations, ninth grade Jasper orientation, holiday candle labs and more.

Q. Do you have any advice for your peers?

A. Be yourself. Dress the way you want, listen to what you want, be who you want to be. As long as you’re not hurting anyone, be yourself.