Potential Magazine Spring 2020 | Page 41

teen spotlight photography by Shelby Shubird stats 17, Senior at Saint James School notable AP Scholar Spanish Honor Society Mu Alpha Theta Honor Society National Honor Society quotable “Don’t sacrifice what you want in the moment for what you need the most.” his story Alex shared his favorite thing about attending Saint James is all of the extracurricular activities. He participates in Varsity foot- ball, Varsity baseball, church youth group, Spanish Club, Pep Club, IPRYL, Youth in Government, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and is a Boys State Representative. He offers this advice to others entering high school: “I would say start strong because you don't want to dig a hole for yourself. High school only gets harder, so I think the better you start academically, the better the whole experience will be.” He wants to be remembered as a hard worker who is always kind to people, which he learned from his father's example. what’s next alexander whisenhunt Saint James School Alex wants to be an Orthopedic Surgeon. He became interested in this profession after he broke his leg playing football in 8th grade and saw all of the x-rays and machines. His interest has grown since he learned that he can stay connected to sports through this field. Alex volunteered in the Baptist South Sum- mer Teen Volunteer Program. This helped him see the medical field closer through volunteering in the different ICU’s. PG (parental guidance) rating Alex stated, “Something about my family that makes me proud is how hard my parents work. My dad is a neurosurgeon, and my mother takes care of five children. They constantly show me how to work hard and it makes me very proud.” parents’ perspective Thomas and Emily shared, “Alex has a wide range of interests and abilities. He's maintained a very high GPA while also staying very involved in sports and other extracurricular activities. We most ad- mire that Alex is both willing and able to stop and help others—he's not afraid to step in and be kind. parent-to-parent The Whisenhunt family encourages other parents to “hold their child accountable to achieve their highest on their own, but to be there for support along the way. Recognize the child's individuality and encourage them to explore activities that they are interested in.” Teen Spotlights are eligible for a $500 Scholarship - Nomination forms at www.potentialmagazine.com/spotlights www.potentialmagazine.com Spring 2020 | L21