What have you been doing since YSC?
My family has been doing some traveling. We swam with the dolphins at Sea World in San Diego, and we went to Maui where I saw the whales. I still love animals and have many sweet pets. My family also started a nonprofit organization called Children’s Cancer Network to help children and families dealing with childhood cancer. I have been cancer-free for five years now, and it is great to reach out and help other kids and families. Discovery Channel even invited me to come to Washington last year to introduce Lance Armstrong at an event on Capitol Hill. It was a great experience!
When you're not studying, what do you like to do?
I play many video games that are mostly adventure. I collect comics and hope to work at Atomic Comics this summer. I love animals and have volunteered at a vet a few times. I’ve also been interested in all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) lately!
How did participating in YSC affect you?
The YSC experience made me realize that I can do anything if I work hard at it. Even simple things can take you far in life if you stick to it.
What are your career goals?
I will go to college, and I’m not sure whether I will study something to do with animation or animals—there are lots of things to choose from and lots of time to choose them.
What's your favorite memory of YSC?
I really liked the first day of the experiments. They had made it a secret where we were going. The bus pulled up in front of the hangar at the airport, we got off, and it was extraordinary when the huge doors opened and we saw all the aviation stuff to do!
Did you win a prize at YSC?
I won the Animal Planet Award. I spent a week working at Alameda East Veterinary Hospital where I worked with some awesome vets and techs. I got to tube-feed a boa constrictor and work with some dogs in physical therapy. The underwater treadmills were great. My favorite part was going to the zoo with one of the vets to do lab work on a tiger who had epilepsy. I got to hand-feed the tiger after his lab work. The whole week was amazing!
What advice would you offer to someone hoping to participate in YSC?
It’s a great experience! Keep on trying things even if they don’t work [the first time]. You’ll never know until you try!
