Senior Spotlight:

Hobbies/passions that you enjoy outside of school?

I am very involved in my church so I’m there for most of my weekends which is probably the number one reason I don’t have much free time. If I am not in church I am doing all my errands like buying groceries, dentist appointments -- which happens pretty often! In terms of hobbies I’ve played piano since I was six, but I don’t talk about it much because I’m self taught not “professional.” I mainly just use it as a coping mechanism and it entertains me so why not? I also really enjoy watching TV.

Favorite cheesy joke?

What can you serve but never eat? A volleyball.

College Essay

When my dad was alive, he would make it a habit of calling my mom every day while we were walking to my school. Whether it be when my mom was coming home from work or if my mom was at home, they would always call each other. I don't know why they did it. But I always assumed it was to make sure they were both safe. I don’t think we ever realized that life could change in a second, but my mom and dad always called each other. Even if I didn’t have school or if my mom was working on the weekend, they would always make time for that call.

When my dad passed away the summer of seventh grade, I realized my mom would no longer receive that daily call; I wanted to change that. With this single call, she would know that my brother and I were reaching school safely and she wouldn’t worry, and I didn’t want her to lose that habit. On the first day of ninth grade, I had my brother pull out the flip phone that we shared to call her: “We’re at school. We’re safe. Bye.” Ever since then, the habit of calling our mom with this catchphrase has been woven into our morning routine as we walk to school. If you walk by us, that’s how we always start our conversations. It’s become a habit. If we don’t call, it makes us feel uneasy.

Over the past two years, if I ever forgot to call my mom, I would immediately feel like I’m forgetting something. I would eventually figure it out, but it always felt like there was someone picking at my heart because I’m overridden with guilt. It’s become such a significant part of my life, that I can’t imagine a weekday morning without calling my mom.

Not only have I taken up the task of calling my mom every morning, but I’ve also taken on other responsibilities my dad held. He was and will continue to be my biggest role model; someone I want to be like as I grow older. For example, my dad would always be the first one up in the morning and it was his job to wake everyone else up. He was extremely punctual. Every school morning, I’m the first one to get up and ensure that my brother and mom are up on time. And then, of course, I get the pleasure of yelling at everyone to get out of the house to make sure we all reach our destination at a reasonable time.

Although these habits seem like small daily routines, they are vital parts of my life because they help me remember my dad. I remember him everytime I call my mom or wake her up in the morning to get ready for work. By continuing to talk about my father, how he supported and loved me, on paper, I ensure that I will have a record of my memories, because as the time without my father grows longer, more and more of my memories of him are fading. I promised myself when I lost him, that I would make sure I would never forget him.