Senior Spotlight: Rowan Abzug

As a prominent member of the drama, sports, and music programs at Central high school, Rowan Abzug exemplifies how one student can have such a large impact in their school community. Rowan is a member of the Marching Maroons, as an alto saxophone player, a member of the archery team, one of three leaders in the school’s own Spectrum Alliance, and a Co-Head of Tech for Thespians in the drama department. He also runs the sound booth for most Central theater productions, such as the recent thespian Cabaret.

Reflecting on their high school experience and the numerous activities they partake in, Rowan says that they are “proud that [they have] been able to introduce new people to all the things [they will] soon be leaving.” Rowan wants “the things that made [them] happy in high school to keep going”. After acquiring many leadership positions this year, Rowan has set a great example for underclassmen throughout the school. For instance, Central’s Spectrum Alliance, which used to consist of as few as three members, has grown immensely over the past few years through the presence of leaders like Rowan.

Thinking back to Freshman year, Rowan felt that they’ve grown a lot over the course of high school. “There are a lot of mistakes I made early on because I thought that there wasn't a point to trying harder. Those mistakes still affect me,” said Rowan. Rowan advises underclassmen to not let failure get them down, and to keep pushing when things get tough.

Rowan appreciates the fact that they were able to take a variety of interesting courses throughout high school, including various classes through Parkland College. Their personal favorite class after four years at Central was Spanish I with Señora Vanderbeek. Looking to the future, Rowan is still debating what they will pursue after high school. They are currently planning on working towards a degree, and are looking forward to exploring many different courses in college. Rowan is an excellent example of an accomplished student who has made the most of their high school years. They show how it’s always worth it to do what you love and not let the obstacle of challenging courses and activities get you down.