What are your most and least favorite subjects and why?

My favorite subject would have to be science. I like it because science gives me a good understanding of reading and math. It also helps me get my brain working. Right now, we are learning about acceleration and distance. Some of the formulas involve math. We are also learning different terms, which involve vocabulary and reading. 

We’ve had some fun hands-on projects, too. In our chewing gum project, we had to determine how much gum we could chew within a given time. Then we had to figure out our chews per second. 

My least favorite would be math but I’m working towards liking it. It’s a good subject, it can just be frustrating sometimes. The more you understand it, the less frustrated you get. We are currently learning two-step equations. 

If you could travel anywhere, where would it be and why?

I’d like to travel to Virginia. It was where I was born and I haven’t explored it all yet. I came to North Carolina in 2019 and Monroe in 2021. 

My brother and I loved riding our bikes outside and playing tag. We would also play hide and seek in the house. We’d help my mom cook and do homework with our dad. We have friends that we consider family so would love to see them. My godparents are there, too. 

We did go to Virginia for Thanksgiving. We had rice, turkey, fish, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese and spaghetti. I ate a lot. 

What careers interest you?

I’m interested in mechanical engineering. It has a lot to do with math, which is why I’m working to like math. You get to build robots or what my dad does is he creates the blueprints for them. I’ve always been interested in how he does it. I’ve asked and he’s told me about it. He tried to teach me calculus in the fifth grade but that didn’t go so well. I have a basic understanding. 

I also wouldn’t mind playing basketball in the NBA. I know I want to play in college.

What clubs or activities do you participate in? And why? 

I participate in a business club that meets every Tuesday and Thursday. There are about 15 of us in the club. We have activities that I enjoy. 

Some people want to start a business. To understand what goes into it, we had to create a food truck concept. We had to figure out what food we’d serve, how much it would cost, what location, name, logo, working hours and profit margins. 

My food truck was the Flavor Express. I would sell Asian noodles, fried and white rice and pizza with a twist on certain days, like Fridays. I created the menu with things I enjoy and what people tend to order the most.

We’ve had a speaker come to talk to us, too. He gave a talk on starting a business and provided helpful advice for anyone looking to work for someone else.

If you had to choose between spaghetti or pizza, which would you choose?

I would choose spaghetti. It’s more flavorful and healthier. Pizza can be greasy but I do eat it occasionally. I specifically love Asian noodles because my mom makes them. She adds spinach and pepper and makes it a little spicy. 

My mom once told me that cooking is an art. She likes to try new things. When I ask her why she is putting in certain ingredients, she tells me it’s because she knows it’ll taste good. 

What three words best describe you?

• Hardworking - My favorite sport is basketball. I’ve been playing since I was seven years old. I’ve gotten better each year with practice and hard work. 

• Confident - My confidence comes from my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Everything you do starts with confidence; without it you have nothing. 

• Smart - I like to think outside the box. For example, someone might see a shortcut on how to do something, well, I want to know why that shortcut exists. That’s part of why I like science because you question everything. I’m a curious person.

What is your happiest school memory?

My happiest school memory is making the basketball team. We practice every day after school for about an hour and a half. When I first tried out for an AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) team, I was not that good. I’m not putting myself down; it was just the reality. Now that I’ve had my coach teaching me and adding to what I know, I’ve gotten so much better. 

It feels good to be improving but I’m not where I want to be yet. 

What advice would you give your parents or teachers?

I would tell my parents to keep doing what they are doing. I’d also tell them that when life seems hard, remember it always gives us another opportunity to push past it. There’s no rose without thorns, which means there is no life without adversities. 

The advice for my teachers would be that even though kids can be a handful, and life may seem stressful at times, you can still do your best because you have come so far.