High School/ Graduation Yr.:
Providence St. Mel 2015
Grade Point Average 4.429/4.0 Scale
Recipient: Spirit of HFS Award

Where are you going to college and what do you plan to major in?
Princeton University! I’m planning to major in sociology and gain a certificate in theater. So far, I have been awarded $59,780 in Grants & Scholarships, which is great because annual expenses are estimated to be $61,800. I am super excited! I visited on a Tuesday in April and really loved it.

What Extra-curricular are you involved in at school?
Voice and Theatre: I had the opportunity to sing at Carnegie Hall in New York, it was an amazing experience. A friend and I also were interviewed as part of a documentary made about the composer.

What hobbies do you enjoy outside of school?
Outside of school, I am an assistant cheerleading coach for the Garfield Park Knights and I am gathering and preparing a team for a dance competition on May 29th. I am preparing individually for the Schmidt Youth Vocal Competition on May 30th and auditioning for a production of Urinetown this summer.

What type of community service have you done this year?
My community service has been my involvement with the park district as far as the cheerleading and dance teams as concerned as well as the Teen Leadership program. I also sporadically help with my church’s food pantry.

Your HFS Mentor?
Meeting my mentor… I had no idea what to expect freshmen year and I was dreading the impending awkwardness of meeting someone for the first time. However, my mentor Julie Harber was feeling just as nervous as I was. It didn’t take long to realize that the mentors are just like older versions of us and soon we became much more comfortable around one another. Having a mentor is vital to me because it allows me to vent without fear of being scolded or lectured. I feel like my mentor genuinely cares about my success and is with me every step of the way, whether I feel like I’m sinking, swimming, or floating.

What is one fun fact about you?
I’ve attended Providence St. Mel since kindergarten and throughout my thirteen years, the school has helped me explore a range of opportunities.

How has HFS impacted your life?
I remember learning about the importance of College financial aid and the FAFSA before I was even an upperclassman. The college visits are wonderful opportunities and I’m glad that all grades are invited/ mandated to attend them. As a freshman you think that senior year is forever away but it isn’t. I am so grateful that HFS helped me continually keep college on the brain because now that I’m a senior, I know my options and I was able to handle this process for myself. I am extremely fortunate to have had a high school experience that kept and continues to keep me thinking about the future. Getting caught up in the present has never been one of my goals because both Providence St. Mel and HFS kept me focused and fed my drive. Because of them I know that when I go to college, I’ll have enough independent experience to be self- disciplined while also knowing that I have a strong support system urging me forward. Success has never been so tangible for me than it is now. I’m off to Princeton University!