Since I was very young, others have recognized my enthusiasm for life. In fact, I received the award for the most enthusiastic student during kindergarten. This quality has remained a constant throughout my life. My spirit of enthusiasm is built upon my hopeful imagination. My lens of life sees what is possible. I have discovered that enthusiasm builds community and encourages others to inclusively respect all.

I am a highly focused, ambitious person who strives to be well-prepared. I work hard at most every endeavor and seek to excel whenever possible. My steadfast determination is a primary driver and motivates me to reach my personal goals. I thrive and learn most effectively in communities which foster curiosity, humility, and collaboration.

While I am a serious student who likes intellectually stimulating discussions, I approach everyday life with a fun-filled heart. I draw from my creativity for inspiration. Whistling a tune, offering a quick-witted response, and exploring the history behind most anything come easily to me. I may see what others might overlook and am attracted to the creativity behind the scenes.

I live life with a sense of upbeat optimism and spontaneous adventure. I enjoy brainstorming and the art of storytelling, especially when these activities are stimulating my mind and connecting with the creative process. I invest fully in friendships and being an equitable contributor within my circle of friends.

Basketball has been an integral part of my life. I was a four-year, high school varsity player. Now, I am the primary Wooster Voice journalist covering the college men’s basketball team and the NCAC. Besides the competition of the games, I value the team aspect of this sport. The intricacy of running plays and working cooperatively to achieve the goal of winning builds individual character and mutual respect for teammates.

I have tremendous appreciation for art. I enjoy visiting art museums with friends. One of my pencil drawings was showcased at an art exhibit in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In addition, two of my paintings, Lonely Lemon and Self-Portrait, were awarded first and second place respectively at a juried art show.

Since a young age, I have been attracted to music. I currently sing with the award-winning Wooster Chorus. I play the piano for enjoyment . During a period of remote learning, I studied music composition and composed several electronic songs. My first single, Night on the Coast, was released on the album, QuarenTeen Music.

I am an avid Star Wars fan. I appreciate that George Lucas utilized historical events to shape the Star Wars universe. Moreover, I envision that Star Wars connects a diverse group of people around a common theme. My interest in Star Wars also intersects with the relaxing hobby of building expert-level LEGO sets. I have built several LEGO Star Wars collector editions, including the 5,000+ piece Republic Attack Cruiser.

I relish traveling with my classmates and family. I have ventured with classmates to the Maine coast, Italy, and New York City. I have hiked with my family in several state and national parks across the United States. Highlights have included hiking a portion of the Grand Canyon, the Anzo-Borrego Desert, Texas Hill Country, and the Laurel Highlands.

I represent the third family generation of entrepreneurs. I work alongside my grandpa in a cottage repair and maintenance business that he began late in his retirement years. I have not only learned technical aspects of the job, I have also learned entrepreneurial skills. I launched my own small business, Andrew’s Lawn and Landscape, a few years ago. As part of my community mindfulness, I offer a unique payment option for senior adults called PWYW (Pay What You Want.)

Based on the recommendation of faculty and staff, I was selected for the Student Leadership Institute. This cohort, based on Leadership for a Better World, supports my engagement with the campus on a deeper level and offers a framework to create change throughout the college community. In addition to writing sports articles, I have also covered community interest stories and promoted campus viewpoints.

I am known for my love of barbeque. I was born in Tennessee and discovered that I enjoyed the smell and taste of barbequed meats. When I travel across the United States, I usually try a barbeque sauce which might be unique to the region. I have learned the difference in sauces between Texas brisket, Carolina pulled pork, Kansas City burnt ends, and Memphis smoked ribs. Moreover, I realize that BBQ may be a popular topic of conversation. I am fascinated to listen to people’s opinions and debates about sauces and rubs. Conversations about BBQ have become my own unofficial study in the dynamics of interpersonal communication!