Balancing school, work, and a social life is not easy, but junior Tanner Gummoe manages to juggle it all with humor and honesty. When I interviewed him about his week, one word summed everything up: busy. Between AP classes, a job at Chick-fil-A, and time with friends, Tanner’s schedule was packed.
For Tanner, the best part of the week was simple. “Getting home after school,” he said. After long days of classes and responsibilities, being home gives him a chance to relax and reset. Still, work has its advantages too. Tanner mentioned that he enjoys the fast-paced environment and the sense of teamwork behind the counter.
School was the biggest challenge. Tanner is currently taking AP Biology, and it definitely keeps him on his toes. “AP bio I learn something new every day. I don’t understand it, but I certainly learned something new,” he said. When asked about the hardest thing he had to do this week, his answer was straightforward. “AP bio work.” Even though the material can be confusing, he continues to show up and put in the effort.
Public speaking added another layer of stress to his week. Tanner admitted he wished he had been more prepared for his speech in Intro to Public Speaking on Monday. Thankfully, he did not handle it alone. “Lucas Baggett helped me a lot with my speech. I spam called him like eight times before it was due,” he said. His honesty shows how stressful assignments can be, but it also highlights the importance of having supportive friends.
Despite the challenges, Tanner still made time for fun. One moment he was especially proud of was beating his friend in a game. “I utterly destroyed him in it. Zero chance whatsoever,” he said confidently. At work, he also had a memorable experience dressing up in the Chick-fil-A cow costume. He even visited a firefighter station and walked a friend around while in costume, which he described as his favorite activity of the week.
Although nothing in particular surprised him, Tanner’s week was clearly full. From difficult AP Bio assignments to speeches, work shifts, and friendly competition, his schedule kept him moving. Busy may be just one word, but for Tanner, it perfectly describes a week filled with responsibility, effort, and a little bit of fun.
