In the bustling halls of Hempfield, one student’s journey stands out as a testament to the power of stepping out of one’s comfort zone. Senior Ryan Carter paints a perfect image of going above and beyond and being an accomplished student. Not only has he grown into a confident individual, but he has left a mark on the school community and serves as a role model to many of his classmates.
Upon arrival at the high school during his freshman year, Ryan Carter was a reserved individual. It wasn’t until his sophomore year that he started to become involved with activities around the school. With determination and support from his teachers and peers, Ryan entered his sophomore year and became extremely involved with his academics and was a member of the HEP program.
Following his sophomore year, Carter began active involvement within the school during his junior year. “He does quiz team, he does science bowls; you have to know stuff and be fast with the buzzer,” Mr. Harden described a few of Ryan Carter’s abilities within a few of his activities.
Carter’s senior year marked a significant shift within his high school career. Ryan Carter developed skills and confidence through his past years that set the stage for this remarkable journey. This year he decided to audition for the fall play, a decision that would further showcase his newfound confidence and creativity. Ryan wanted to become more involved his senior year, saying “It was available. I thought about doing it last year and decided ‘why not, it’s my senior year.’ I wanted to be more well-rounded this year.”
When talking with Mr. Scheuermann, he said that his wife was very shocked by the fact that Ryan was going to embark on the fall play journey. “There is no way in the world Ryan is in a play,” his wife said.
Carter immersed himself into the role, spending hours perfecting his lines and focusing on portraying the character perfectly. “It was definitely out of my comfort zone, but I grew into the role and enjoyed it in the end,” Carter said.
In addition to his theatrical pursuits, Carter helped design a contraption for the HEP project. Students were assigned to create a contraption that could successfully build a sandwich. Embracing the project, Carter collaborated with his peers and expanded his thinking into creating this contraption that builds “conceptual” sandwiches. Carter described these ideas as “out of the box thinking.”
Carter’s decision to step out of his comfort zone and participate in the fall play while simultaneously designing a contraption for HEP showcased his talents and dedication. His efforts showcase the importance of embracing new experiences and pushing personal boundaries.
When asking Carter about his senior year, he describes it as such: “It’s been eventful, do something significant in the last year of school so I have something to look back on. I wasn’t doing a lot freshman year. I started doing stuff my sophomore year. One last hoorah.”
