In The ZONA - East Valley Jan. 2014 | Page 3

Blaise Schaefer 8th Grader at Saint Theresa Catholic School You are involved with a lot of activities at school, tell us about them all. Well, currently at school I am a part of the school choir, which means I sing at every Wednesday Mass. I’m our Student Council Secretary, which comes with all sorts of responsibilities. I’m also a member of the National Junior Honors Society (NJHS), which means I tutor occasionally to other students at the school. I help out with a lot of the events at our school like the auction and fall festival, as well as get involved in the sports programs. I’m playing basketball right now for the school… don’t ask how that’s going (we’re 0-4)! Which do you think is your favorite? My favorite would be torn from choir and Student Council. Both offer me really good opportunities to get involved in school and church life. I really have used choir to become incredibly involved in our school’s usage of our church (I know how to set up the whole church for a mass) but Student Council offers a lot of ways to get involved with the school as well. I just really like being able to help out in every way possible. Always give it your best... not doing your best is only going to hurt you later. Tell us about your involvement in your school musical? I was in our school’s production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat last year, playing the role of one of Joseph’s brothers: Issachar. I had a solo for a depressing song with a heavy French accent. Thanks to our director, Terry Temple, the show was a huge success that even won an award in a youth theater organization. I plan on being a part of Mr. Temple’s next production in the spring, but we don’t know what it will be yet. What do you love the most about STCS?  I love the teachers and staff and STCS the most. Without them nothing would really be possible. They’re some of the nicest people I know. The community is also amazing and worth note here. The parents of my grade are so generous with their time and talent to put together things like our Christmas dance last Friday. What do you think is the hardest part about juggling extra circulars and still being an honor student? Just giving up the time to do it. I like to have fun with all of the extra-curricular programs and still manage good grades. You have to give more time and effort. Staying after school until 4:30 for basketball doesn’t mean you’re going to have less homework when you get home. You just have to be willing to give up some of that free time you might be used to having. What general advice do you give to students that you are tutoring?  To always give it their best. You may hate what you’re doing, but not doing your best is only going to hurt you later. Is there anything else that you want to add that our readers may not know about you?  I think my friends are one of the greatest gifts I have, as well as my family and my beautiful ranch in Montana where I spend every summer and get to meet great new people. I never want to lose any of them. Z inthezona.com January 2014 / 3