Midway High School
Q: What are your study tips?
A: When you’re trying to understand something, find someone to explain it to, whether it’s a classmate or your mom or your dog, talking through it out loud helps you to process the information.
Q: What is one thing you wish you’d known your freshman year?
A: That teachers are interesting people, and you should get to know them on a personal level. One example is my computer science teacher [and debate coach], Mrs. Jones. We’ve spent a lot of time at debate tournaments talking about life and everything, and she is just a really interesting person.
Q: What has been your favorite and your most challenging subject?
A: My favorite subject is physics. I like figuring out what makes the universe tick on a most fundamental level. My most challenging would be history because it’s all about interpretation and context.
Q: What are your plans for college?
A: I plan to study mechanical engineering at the University of Texas and then go to [graduate] school. Probably go work for a research and development corporation.
Q: Growing up, what is something your mother or father always told you?
A: Life is about balance. Eat three meals and get eight hours of sleep every day no matter what.
Q: Was there one teacher who had a significant impact on you?
A: My third grade teacher, Mr. Chrismer, taught me that learning is not about getting a good grade or even succeeding in life. That learning has intrinsic value. The self-fulfillment you get from understanding more of the world gives life meaning.
Q: What is something most people don’t know about you?
A: That I play a lot of chess. It’s my favorite pastime.