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

A. My parents are Doug and Valerie. My siblings, who are both now Emmaus grads, are Megan and Matthew. I have two golden retrievers named Bailey and Riley.

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

A. I want to gain as many new skills and as much knowledge as I can from my senior year to continue to prepare me for college and the larger journey of life ahead. I also want to make the most of this time with my friends and family, creating fun memories while seizing every opportunity to try new things.

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

A. My favorite class at Emmaus so far has been botany and zoology. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the history and anatomy of the wide variety of living things all around me. The hands-on learning, class community and enthusiastic teacher made this course especially memorable. Seeing how the knowledge I gained from this class continues to appear in my daily surroundings only adds to the value I’ve given this course.

Q. Have you received any special awards or recognition?

A. Throughout my years at Emmaus, in addition to peer recognition, my teachers have acknowledged my work by selecting me for awards in both the arts and social studies. I have earned Principal’s Honors Roll each semester and I have also been granted the privilege to join both National Honor Society and National Art Honor Society.

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

A. I am a proud part of National Art Honor Society at Emmaus which has allowed me to improve and connect creatively with not only my school but my larger local community. Getting involved with various school activities and volunteering with charitable organizations through NAHS has continued to show me firsthand how both taking time to help others and spreading art brings so much joy to everyone involved. Throughout my years, this opportunity has also helped me meet people with similar interests, take on leadership roles in areas I’m passionate about and collaborate constructively with those from other societies and clubs to create the best product for all. In addition, my social skills and problem solving abilities have been enhanced by my time spent at my part-time job at Kohl’s. These experiences will not only help me during my senior year but also through college and beyond.

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

A. Life moves incredibly fast, and I’ve learned it can be difficult to make time to do everything one both wants and needs to do. At first, senior year appears to be the most daunting personification of this struggle to date: having to split my time between the adventure of the college search, the demands of senior year classes and the memories I wish to make during my last year of this life chapter that is high school. But, I know if I take this year one step at a time, it will continue to teach me that enjoying every step of the way allows for one’s responsibilities and wishes to be achieved simultaneously.

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

A. I am currently planning on furthering my education by studying architectural design at a university with lots of school pride and a top-tier program. I’m hoping this path will prepare me to design buildings and homes people can happily live their lives in.

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

A. I would choose to have a conversation with the inspiring Robin Williams. Apart from his countless fantastic acting roles, his ability to radiate positivity to all those around him, even in times of his own hardship, is unbelievable. I would want to hear what motivated him and gave him the ability to inspire, produce art and make others happy despite his own struggles.

Q. For what would you like to be remembered?

A. I would like to be remembered for the way I’ve made my friends and family feel and by the fun moments we’ve shared. I cherish the big adventures, small memories and everything in between that connects me with the people I love. I find great value in making the ones you care about feel loved throughout all journeys you share together, and it would be my greatest honor to be remembered by the way I’ve helped bring joy into others’ lives.

Q. Do you have any advice for your peers?

A. My advice is to treat everything like an adventure because then nothing feels like a chore. And remember that sometimes the best things or memories come from unexpected places!