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

A. I live with my father, Flavio, my mother, Lori and my younger brother, Bryson.

Q. As a senior, do you have any specific goals you will pursue this academic year?

A. I will continue exploring colleges and majors within the sciences including biology, biomedical and/or genetics. I want to get involved with the Biology Olympiad this year. And most important to me, I will complete my Eagle Scout Rank. I have already completed my project which entailed rehabbing the outside of the Emmaus High School Astronomy Observatory. I provided new space-themed plantings, built a paver patio and Green Acres graciously donated a picnic table. My hope is the students and community can gather for public star parties. I did this project because I love astronomy and my goal is that everyone comes together to appreciate it to the same extent I do.

Q. What is your favorite class at Emmaus High School? Why?

A. My favorite classes are biology, chemistry and astronomy. I am really looking forward to taking AP Biology, genetics and microbiology this year. I am a science person and have always loved science since I was young, so these classes are perfect for me. I enjoy understanding life systems, why things in our natural world occur and how everything interacts with each other.

Q. Have you received any special awards or recognition?

A. My awards and recognitions include Excellence in Geometry, two-time Scout of the Quarter, Order of the Arrow Boy Scout Honor Society, Order of the Arrow Troop Representative, Witauchsoman Service Award, completion of Neidig Leadership Camp and completion of National Youth Leadership Training.

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 Scouting, Order of the Arrow, Chess Team, Chess Club, Astronomy Club and Student Forum. As a person, I am not a natural leader or public speaker. Scouting and Order of the Arrow have given me an opportunity to practice and build on these skills. My involvement in the clubs have helped me develop social connections with students who share similar interests to me. Student Forum has allowed me to network with students from other high schools. I learn about their high schools, their communities and we work together on community service projects. It’s good to help the community and see things from others’ perspectives.

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

A. I think my biggest challenge to date is school. School requires an incredible amount of advocating for yourself, flexibility, planning and dedication if you want to succeed. With so many responsibilities inside and outside of school, it becomes very difficult to balance work life and social life, especially when you are a perfectionist like me who subconsciously works to make everything absolutely perfect.

Q. At this time, what are your plans for the future beyond high school?

A. I plan on beginning my education in the biomedical field. I haven’t picked a specific major yet, but I am slowly narrowing down my options. After college, I plan on moving north to a colder state. Anywhere that isn’t hot works best for me.

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

A. If I were able to spend an evening talking with a person of historical importance, I would speak with Johannes Kepler because of his extensive background in astronomy. I have always loved astronomy from a very young age, and to actually speak to him and ask what he did to formulate and confirm his three laws of planetary motion would be very interesting.

Q. For what would you like to be remembered?

A. I would like to be remembered as someone who worked to help others and not for his own benefit, a moral role model and as a person of strong integrity and willpower.

Q. Do you have any advice for your peers?

A. Life is similar to a Scout trip ... throughout your life, you will experience times of happiness like when your hiking route gets you to your destination on time. You will also experience pitfalls like when someone forgets to bring half of the ingredients for your meals. When you experience these pitfalls, what you need to remember is: if we as a Troop can work around these issues and still have a good trip, then I have the power to fix the problems in my life as well. In life, steadfast dedication, strong motivation and a good outlook on your future will help you overcome obstacles in your life, no matter how big or small. Oh yeah, keep the stupid to a minimum. We don’t want all of that.