Q: What is your GPA?
A: 5.77
Q: Have you been in the Top 10 before?
A: “Yes, I have been 1st all four years of high school.”
Q: What does your schedule look like this year?
A: “I’ve got late arrival, AP Gov, OnRamps Statistics, library aide, AP Literature, OnRamps Bio and track. I definitely saved my lighter schedule for senior year, because I knew I’d be too tired after junior year.”
Q: What are your plans after high school?
A: “I’m going to UT-Austin because they offered me a full ride plus a 20k stipend. I’m double-majoring in International Affairs in the Plan II Honors Program. After undergrad, I hope to go to law school to pursue international law and hopefully work in policy, diplomacy or in NGOs.”
Q: Do you participate in any extracurricular activities?
A: “Too many to count… Debate, Academic Team, Culture and Diversity Club, Student Council and my job at the Holocaust Museum are my favorites though. I also help teach English to Spanish speakers at a community center downtown. I love the humanities and social sciences, as well as anything that allows for meaningful conversation. I also love track and field, because it’s fun to be part of something bigger than myself and see improvement with training.”
Q: What do you do in your free time?
A: “I love to read, and I also spend a lot of time working on my YouTube Channel. I also love making fun coffees, watching niche movies, exploring downtown Houston and hanging out with my friends.”
Q: What is your favorite class you’ve taken?
A: “I loved AP Euro. Coach Coovert made it so much fun, and it was super interactive, which made lessons really memorable, and the people in that class genuinely loved history, which made the environment and our daily ‘good things’ something I looked forward to every day.”
Q: What was the most difficult class you’ve taken?
A: “I am definitely more of a humanities person than a STEM-minded one, so OnRamps PreCal was really difficult for me. Mrs. Johnson was such a great teacher though; I was just not that quick at picking up material, and it definitely moved fast.”
Q: What teacher has had the biggest impact on you?
A: “Mrs. Neel was always so encouraging and truly helped me gain confidence not just as a writer but as a person. She never wavered in helping me to be the best I could be, and that kind of thing sticks with you forever.”
Q: What friend has had the biggest impact on you?
A: “Definitely my best friend, Ticlo Laroche. We’ve been friends since high school, and her optimism and natural sense of humor have always been endearing, and she’s always been incredibly supportive. I’m excited to go to UT with her in the fall.”
Q: What is your biggest accomplishment in high school?
A: “My biggest accomplishment was probably the self-confidence I gained from high school, which has allowed me to make so many friends and have new experiences. I also am, of course, honored to be KPark’s first Black valedictorian, I think, and getting a full merit scholarship was really life-changing.”
Q: How do your parents feel about how well you are doing in school?
A: “They’re really proud, especially my dad since he was his school’s valedictorian too. Plus, they’re thrilled that they won’t have to pay college tuition because of my scholarship.”
Q: If you could give freshmen any piece of advice, what would it be?
A: “Enjoy your time in high school, because you will never be here again, and you will never be exactly the same as you are now. Go out on the week night! Dress up for spirit day! Nothing lasts and one day you will wish you could do this again. Give your worries to God. Also take late arrival – it is life-changing.”
Q: What is your favorite high school memory?
A: “I really enjoyed the debate competitions I took part in; I got to meet a lot of interesting people and gain new perspectives. I also loved activities like the Genghis Khan trial in AP World, which was such a fun way to learn and feel like a part of history.”
Q: What is your GPA?
A: 5.696
Q: Have you been in the Top 10 before?
A: “I’ve been in the Top 10 all four years. I started at sixth freshman year and moved up to second sophomore year, where I’ve stayed since.”
Q: What does your schedule look like this year?
A: “I took OnRamps Physics, AP Government and Economics, OnRamps Statistics, AP Calculus BC, Dual-Credit English 4, and Silver Stars.”
Q: What are your plans after high school?
A: “I plan to major in computer science at Vanderbilt University.”
Q: Do you participate in any extracurricular activities?
A: “Yes, I am President of NTHS, President of NCL Lake Houston, Co-President of Mu Alpha Theta, Secretary of NHS, Secretary of Rho Kappa, Treasurer of NEHS, Historian of SNHS, a Captain for Silver Stars, a member of the Academic Team, and a member of MECKKA Dance Project. I do these all because I’m passionate about dance, my career, and want to make a difference through service. I also do it to help expand and diversify my knowledge and leadership.”
Q: What do you do in your free time?
A: “When I’m not at dance, I like to spend time with my friends and family, relax at home, and volunteer at the SPCA.”
Q: What is your favorite class you’ve taken?
A: “My favorite classes I’ve taken are my technology classes, like Cyber Security and Computer Maintenance. It’s something I’m really passionate about, and getting to learn more about what my career could possibly be in the future to me is fun and exciting.”
Q: What was the most difficult class you’ve taken?
A: “The most difficult class I’ve taken is AP Calculus BC. Math has normally come easy to me to the point where I don’t really study, so this class definitely forced me to learn how to better study math and overcome a few bad grades.”
Q: What teachers have had the biggest impact on you?
A: “Every teacher has taught me something, but the few that stand out are Mr. Nicholson, Ms. Wells, Mr. Taylor and Ms. Vaughn. Each of them has taught me things I will take with me going into college and beyond that as well. Mr. Nicholson has always believed in me and supported me through my passion for computer science. Ms. Wells has helped me overcome failure and grow as a student. Mr. Taylor has helped prepare me for college through his teaching and made physics fun to learn. Lastly, Ms. Vaughn has helped me grow as a leader, dancer, and person throughout my four years at KPark.”
Q: What friends have had the biggest impact on you?
A: “My teammates on Silver Stars and especially my fellow senior class this year have had a huge impact on me. We’ve grown up through high school together and spent almost all our time together. They’ve helped me get through my lows and been there to celebrate my highs. I wouldn’t be who I am without them, and I’m going to miss them so much after I graduate.”
Q: What is your biggest accomplishment in high school?
A: “My biggest accomplishment, in addition to being 2nd in my class, is just getting through high school. I’ve always kept myself busy with clubs and school, so to finish my time here so strong without giving up or burning myself out really is the greatest accomplishment.”
Q: How do your parents feel about how well you are doing in school?
A: “My parents have always supported my academic journey, and they’ve told me a lot how proud they are of me. I’m so thankful to have them by my side, and I hope I can continue to make them proud.”
Q: If you could give freshmen any piece of advice, what would it be?
A: “Hard work does pay off. The reward you get might not be the one you were wanting, but in the end, it will all come together if you just keep pushing forward and don’t give up.”
Q: What is your favorite high school memory?
A: “My favorite high school memory is getting to perform at games with my friends on Silver Stars. I really enjoyed getting to perform officer strut on the field and go out on the court for pep rallies and basketball games.”
Q: Have you been in the Top 10 before?
A: “Yes. I was #3 freshman year, #4 my sophomore and junior year, and now I’m #3 again.”
Q: What are your plans after high school?
A: “Complete undergrad at UCLA and apply to post-graduate school.”
Q: Do you participate in any extracurricular activities?
A: “Swim because I have been doing it my whole life, and it’s my form of stress relief, and NHS because I like to serve my community and school.”
Q: What do you do in your free time?
A: “I work at a real estate company, and I cook and bake for my family and friends.”
Q: What is your favorite class you’ve taken?
A: “AP Calculus BC. It challenged me to work harder and study more than I have ever done before.”
Q: What friends have had the biggest impact on you?
A: “My friends Will and Max. We’ve been friends our whole school lives together, and they’ve pushed me to be the best person academically and socially.”
Q: What is your biggest accomplishment in high school?
A: “Being top 10 all four years because it shows all the work I put into school.”
Q: How do your parents feel about how well you are doing in school?
A: “My parents are happy that I can push myself to get these grades and encourage me with positive feedback.”
Q: If you could give freshmen any piece of advice, what would it be?
A: “Enjoy your four years, but don’t let yourself get too loose or it’s hard to come back from grades.”
Q: What is your favorite high school memory?
A: “Being at Region my sophomore year, surrounded by all my teammates coming back from my biggest injury and hearing them cheering for me.”
Q: What is your GPA?
A: 5.581
Q: Have you been in the Top 10 before?
A: “I have been in the Top 10 since junior year.”
Q: What does your schedule look like this year?
A: “My classes in order are OnRamps Chemistry, OnRamps Statistics, Dual Credit English, AP Calculus BC, OnRamps Government/Economics, and Practicum in Information Technology. I prioritized OnRamps classes since they allow me to gain college credit early and at a lower cost.”
Q: What are your plans after high school?
A: “I plan to study computer science at the University of Texas at Austin.”
Q: Do you participate in any extracurricular activities?
A: “I am the team leader of the UIL Academic Computer Science team because of my genuine interest in the subject and desire to develop skills in leadership and team-related activities. I am also a member of NHS, Math NHS, and Science NHS.”
Q: What do you do in your free time?
A: “I usually play video games or scroll social media. I also sometimes try to create something computer science-related, such as a video game or a cool-looking shader.”
Q: What is your favorite class you’ve taken?
A: “My favorite class I’ve taken is Computer Science I, since it introduced me to so many important concepts that were previously difficult to understand. It also gave me the freedom to experiment and create with computer science in a dedicated class period.”
Q: What was the most difficult class you’ve taken?
A: “The most difficult class I’ve taken is AP US History, since it requires a lot of studying and memorization, and history is my least favorite subject.”
Q: What teacher has had the biggest impact on you?
A: “Mr. Nicholson has had the biggest impact on me, since he was the one who suggested that I should lead the UIL Computer Science team.”
Q: What is your biggest accomplishment in high school?
A: “My biggest accomplishment in high school is leading the UIL Computer Science team to regionals twice, since it showcases my team’s growth.”
Q: How do your parents feel about how well you are doing in school?
A: “They are extremely proud of me.”
Q: If you could give freshmen any piece of advice, what would it be?
A: “Work hard, but don’t get burned out.”
Q: What is your GPA?
A: 5.572
Q: Have you been in the Top 10 before?
A: “Yes, since ninth grade.”
Q: What does your schedule look like this year?
A: “AP Euro, Art Sculpt, AP Calculus AB, Dual Credit English, Varsity Orchestra, OnRamps Biology and early release. This was a good mix of downtime, classes I genuinely enjoy and challenging classes.”
Q: What are your plans after high school?
A: “Attend the University of Texas in Austin for psychology.”
Q: Do you participate in any extracurricular activities?
A: “Orchestra, National Art Honor Society, Art Club, Science National Honor Society and National Honor Society. I enjoy volunteering and contributing to events and causes I have a lot of interest in. I have dedicated 30+ hours to orchestra just this year alone because I love to play piano and be around other musicians. I enjoy helping out at art events and am the NAHS president due to my lifelong love of art and creativity. Lastly, biology is my favorite core subject, and I am always happy to help out the science department in any way that I can.”
Q: What do you do in your free time?
A: “Painting, drawing, sculpting, playing piano, shopping, sewing, napping, and playing with my cat.”
Q: What is your favorite class you’ve taken?
A: “It’s between Dual Credit US History & Art Sculpt. Dual Credit US History is definitely one of my favorite classes because of its welcoming environment and interesting/fun way of learning history. Art Sculpt is also my favorite class because it has surprised me. It was added onto my schedule due to not being able to fit in AP Art; however, it is one of the best art classes I have taken. Every day I am doing something new and interesting, and I am learning more and more about art that I had not previously known.
Q: What was the most difficult class you’ve taken?
A: “The most difficult classes I have taken are OnRamps Dual Physics and AP Calculus. These classes were most difficult for me because they are cumulative of all science and math I have previously learned, plus new curriculum that takes patience to get the hang of.”
Q: If you could give freshmen any piece of advice, what would it be?
A: “Stay determined and stay disciplined. One bad day, week or month is small and trivial in the grand scheme of things. But it’s important to not make it a habit. Take time to step back, reboot and get things back on course.”
Q: What is your favorite high school memory?
A: “My favorite high school memory is doing the physics boat race junior year with my friends. This project took many, many hours to build and represented long hours working together on labs and homework after school. It was a fun way to put our minds together and do something exciting for all of us.”
Q: What is your GPA?
A: 5.559
Q: Have you been in the Top 10 before?
A: “Since Spring semester of freshman year.”
Q: What does your schedule look like this year?
A: “Late arrival, AP Gov, Dual English 4, AP Calc BC, OnRamps Stats, office aide, golf.”
Q: What are your plans after high school?
A: “Go to Texas A&M, major in industrial engineering and get a master’s in finance.”
Q: Do you participate in any extracurricular activities?
A: “Golf, great chance for some relaxation and can play it forever.”
Q: What do you do in your free time?
A: “Sleep.”
Q: What is your favorite class you’ve taken?
A: “Physics, really interesting material.”
Q: What was the most difficult class you’ve taken?
A: “Calc BC. It felt like a foreign language.”
Q: What friend has had the biggest impact on you?
A: “Marisa Chinen and Will Burningham kept me focused. Had a lot of good times together over the years.”
Q: What is your biggest accomplishment in high school?
A: “Getting top 10, took a lot of work.”
Q: How do your parents feel about how well you are doing in school?
A: “They’re proud.”
Q: If you could give freshmen any piece of advice, what would it be?
A: “Enjoy these years.”
Q: What is your favorite high school memory?
A: “Golf tournaments, gave me some relaxation.”
Q: What is your GPA?
A: 5.525
Q: Have you been in the Top 10 before? If so, for how long?
A: “End or middle of sophomore year, I think.”
Q: What does your schedule look like this year?
A: “AP Euro, AP Econ/Gov, OnRamps Stats, Calculus BC, OnRamps Biology, AP French 4, tennis. I wanted a challenge.”
Q: What are your plans after high school?
A: “I want to go to law school, work in government and move abroad.”
Q: Do you participate in any extracurricular activities?
A: “President of Math NHS & English NHS, VP of Science NHS, activities chair of History NHS, Diversity Chair of Culture Club, President of French NHS, President of French Club, Varsity Tennis. I love tennis and I like leadership roles.”
Q: What do you do in your free time?
A: “Listen to music, play tennis, walk, bike, swim, travel and read.”
Q: What is your favorite class you’ve taken?
A: “AP Government. I love learning about the government and politics. I also have some amazing friends in that class, as well as a great teacher.”
Q: What was the most difficult class you’ve taken?
A: “BC CALCULUS. Because it’s calculus. It’s just really hard to force myself to review because it always takes so long.”
Q: What teacher has had the biggest impact on you?
A: “Mrs. (Venessa) Johnson. She was always just so sweet to me, made me feel super comfortable, and I could talk to her about anything. I feel like I really connected with her the most. She also taught math, which is a class I enjoyed.”
Q: How do your parents feel about how well you are doing in school?
A: “They’re probably proud of me.”
Q: If you could give freshmen any piece of advice, what would it be?
A: “PRIORITIZE. Consider what you want to achieve and focus on your path to get that. Don’t waste time and energy on meaningless things. Sleep more too.”
Q: What is your favorite high school memory?
A: “Laughing so hard til I cried with my friends in sophomore year Adv Algebra 2, after we just took a test that we thought we all absolutely failed. We started reciting silly phrases you see on decor items at like a HomeGoods. It’s my favorite not only because I was laughing so hard my stomach hurt, but also it’s okay to fail, because if I didn’t fail, I wouldn’t have ever made that memory.”
Q: Is there anything else you would like to add?
A: “Energy drinks are not the answer.”
Q: What does your schedule look like this year?
A: “Way too busy – church, XC/track, job, hanging with friends.”
Q: What are your plans after high school?
A: “Serve a 2-year mission in the Ivory Coast.”
Q: Do you participate in any extracurricular activities?
A: “XC/Track.”
Q: What do you do in your free time?
A: “Hang with my friends.”
Q: What teachers have had the biggest impact on you?
A: “Coach Ack and Ms. Taylor because they’re the GOATS.”
Q: What friends have had the biggest impact on you?
A: “Max, Marisa, David, and Juan because they’ve been there for me always.”
Q: What is your favorite high school memory?
A: “Honestly, any memory with my friends where we almost died or did something crazy.”
Q: Is there anything else you would like to add?
A: “God is king.”
Q: What is your GPA?
A: 5.517
Q: Have you been in the Top 10 before?
A: “I have been in the top 10 since freshman year.”
Q: What does your schedule look like this year?
A: “Swimming, AP Goverment/Economics, Aeroscience 2, AP Calculus BC, AP English Literature, OnRamps Biology, OnRamps Statistics. My schedule is pretty rigid because swim practice cannot change times. I have had to make sacrifices in order to stay in Aeroscience 2, such as not being in the same period as my group.”
Q: What are your plans after high school?
A: “Pursue a degree in Aerospace Engineering at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.”
Q: Do you participate in any extracurricular activities?
A: “Swimming (in-school only), NHS volunteering, FSHS meetings.”
Q: What do you do in your free time?
A: “I mainly play games, walk around the neighborhood and write.”
Q: What is your favorite class you’ve taken?
A: “Aeroscience 1, because of the team-building it encourages and the climactic launches.”
Q: What was the most difficult class you’ve taken?
A: “AP Calculus BC, as there is a lot to remember. It’s not a “Plug & Chug” type math class.”
Q: What teacher has had the biggest impact on you?
A: “Mr. Taylor because of his enthusiasm and supportiveness.”
Q: What friend has had the biggest impact on you?
A: “Luke Goss as we have encouraged each other to grow in faith over the years.”
Q: What is your biggest accomplishment in high school?
A: “Mainly getting Top 10, as it required me to stay on top of all my classwork and study hard.”
Q: How do your parents feel about how well you are doing in school?
A: “They are very proud of me for my hard work.”
Q: If you could give freshmen any piece of advice, what would it be?
A: “Don’t get lazy near the end of the year and make sure you study well for AP Calculus BC.”
Q: What is your favorite high school memory?
A: “My Aeroscience 1 Rocket Launch, which was a really great experience putting all the hours of hard work to the test. (It crashed & burned but that’s besides the point.)”
Q: What is your GPA?
A: 5.505
Q: Have you been in the Top 10 before?
A: “I have been somewhere in the top 10 every year of high school.”
Q: What does your schedule look like this year?
A: I am in OnRamps Chemistry and Biology because I wanted to be in advanced classes and enjoy learning about science. I am in English 4 Dual Credit because I need an English credit and it’s advanced. I’m in French 2 Advanced for my language credit. I’m in Computer Science 2 because I am interested in it, and it may be my career. I’m in Calculus AB because I wanted to take Calculus BC, but my schedule would not allow it. I’m in AP Euro because it is advanced, but more relaxed and fun at times.”
Q: What are your plans after high school?
A: “Going to college at UT-Austin.”
Q: Do you participate in any extracurricular activities?
A: “I’m a part of the UIL Academic Team, specifically in computer science and science. I was introduced to it early in high school by Derek (Herrera), who was a senior at the time, and stuck with it ever since. It can be a bit stressful or boring at times, but it’s fun, especially with the right people.”
Q: What do you do in your free time?
A: “I mostly watch YouTube and play video games. I also sometimes work on making art/video games/board games/videos.”
Q: What is your favorite class you’ve taken?
A: “OnRamps Physics, I liked how the problems felt less like questions and more like puzzles to be solved. Some were very difficult, but I figured out most of them. The boat project was also nice. Although we procrastinated a bit, it was fun to meet up and design something real with cool people.”
Q: What was the most difficult class you’ve taken?
A: “Going by grades, it’s AP Lang. I have always had more trouble with English and writing than other subjects. Everything is subjective, but also there is a correct answer. It was a low point in my time in high school.”
Q: What friend has had the biggest impact on you?
A: “My girlfriend, Victoria. Though I am still pretty quiet, without her, I would be even less talkative and more alone. If I wasn’t with her, then I would not have gone to or would be much less interested in school events like prom. I don’t know what I would be like if we hadn’t met again, but it would probably not be good.”
Q: What is your biggest accomplishment in high school?
A: “My biggest accomplishment in school is going to regionals in Academic Team. Last year I went to region for team computer science, and this year I am going for the computer science team event, individual event and for science. Though we didn’t advance last time, it was a good experience, and we grew stronger as a team. Hopefully, we’ll do well this year.”
Q: How do your parents feel about how well you are doing in school?
A: “My parents are proud of me. My mom sometimes pushes me to do more and to be better.”
Q: If you could give freshmen any piece of advice, what would it be?
A: “Be consistent and do things when you get them, before they are due.”
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