Aug. 2020

Hometown: Jamestown, NC

Home High School (the one I'm currently attending): University of North Carolina School of the Arts

What's your favorite part of NCSSM Online?
My favorite part is being able to connect with other like-minded students across the state. NCSSMO gives me the opportunity to study and collaborate with students I wouldn't be able to meet otherwise and it's truly one of the best aspects of the program.

What's the biggest challenge you've encountered in the Online program?
One of the biggest challenges is juggling my home school work and my online work. Occasionally, I'm faced with an influx of work from both sides and it can be a challenge at times.

How have you met that challenge?
I'm still trying to find a "perfect solution" but what's helped me is keeping track of my scheduled online class work. My classes at my home school might not always provide a calendar or schedule ahead of time, but knowing when assignments are due on at least one side helps me manage my time and increase my efficiency.

What's an "aha" moment you've experienced in one of your Online classes?
I'm not sure if this counts, but at the Online Weekend for Classical Genetics in February of this year, I discovered that gel electrophoresis wasn't as complex as I thought it was. I was afraid of messing up when loading the DNA samples into the gel, but it was much easier than I thought.

What are two of your greatest interests or passions?
I absolutely love reading and eating. I'm a huge foodie and particularly enjoy desserts and spicy food. I've also been an avid reader for as long as I can remember and my favorite types of reading material are novels and web novels in both English and Mandarin Chinese.

If you had one year of freedom, what would you want to do?
I would love to travel around the world and explore the food and culture of other countries. It's always been a dream of mine and I hope to have the opportunity to travel in the future.

What have you missed most during the pandemic?
I've missed seeing my friends and having gatherings in person. I go to a boarding school so there's not a lot of chances to meet up during the school year, but on the brighter side of things, the pandemic has also given me the opportunity to spend more time with my family.

How are you coping during the pandemic?
I was really disappointed that so many events (summer programs, competitions, test dates, etc.) were cancelled but I've been able to keep myself busy with other projects and collaborations. Living with my family has also been a wonderful experience, especially since I'll be graduating this school year.

What are you looking forward to in the coming school year?
I'm looking forward to enjoying my senior year and making the most of my remaining time at school. We're in such uncertain times and I hope that we can finish the school year safely and hold an in-person graduation at the end.

What words of wisdom do you have for Online students?
If you ever feel overwhelmed or have questions, reach out to your teachers! Communication is key, especially since we're online and it's easy to have miscommunications. And make sure to check your email frequently for any announcements or notices!