The first thought that someone usually gets when they think of school is education. For Alina, this side of school is one of  her main priorities this year. When asked about her academic goals, she said, “I really want to pass all of my AP exams. It’s important to me because I can earn college credit for all the classes I’m taking. […] I’m looking forward to achieving not only good grades for those classes, but also a better understanding of certain topics I’m currently learning about.” Her schedule consists of various social science focused courses, such as AP Environmental Science, AP Seminar, AP World History, and Psychology. Concerning her future goals, she said, “I want to go into International Human Rights Law, and I probably want to attend a flexible college so I can volunteer for UNICEF.” 

This year, she especially anticipates learning how to drive, getting more volunteer hours, and potentially even getting a job. She’s been a member of Sunlake’s Key Club since the beginning of her freshman year. Volunteering is a key strength to Alina, giving her a productive outlet to work toward. One of her main goals this year is to achieve the Bright Futures Academic Scholarship through volunteering in Key Club. Also, recently, she joined Hawkeye after attending their meeting on Thursday. School clubs are an excellent way for her to become more involved with the student body and community, she believes. “Even though sometimes I don’t want to be at school, I’ve already made a lot of new friends, and my new classes have been great so far. Going to school feels a bit more enjoyable now,” she says. Alina’s high-achieving expectations are a great way for her to focus on the goals that she’s set for herself this school year.