PHOTO: Matthew Gaulin

Age: 17
Senior at First Academy-Leesburg

I’m involved in many activities as a student of First Academy. I am on the basketball and tennis teams, I serve as president of National Honor Society and I have been playing trumpet all four years as a performer in the concert band. I also played football during my freshman and sophomore years.

I never play video games and rarely watch television unless a sporting event is on. Not doing those things are big reasons why I can successfully juggle my busy schedule. If I was working toward personal success, I don’t think I’d be disciplined enough, but God has given me a motivation that is much bigger and more important than my own success, namely glorifying Him and furthering His kingdom.

My favorite sport to play is basketball. I played two years at the junior varsity level and two years at the varsity level. During my senior season, I am averaging 13 points and 10 rebounds per game.

This season, I play shooting guard on offense and defend the post on defense. I am actually the team’s leading rebounder, which is unusual for a shooting guard. I am also captain of our basketball team.

To maintain good grades, you have to make sure all your work is finished before you reward yourself. Also, to do your best academically and athletically, always seek the help of teachers and coaches because they are flexible and will help you with your schedule. God’s commandment to work hard at whatever you do for God’s glory is highly motivating to me.

My favorite high school class is AP biology. We have been able to do lots of cool lab work, including injecting DNA into bacteria to make it resistant to viruses.

Right now, I am leaning toward attending Baylor University because I was accepted into its University Scholars Program. Of the school’s 4,000 incoming freshman each year, only 40 students are accepted into this unique program, which allows students to design their own course of study centered around personal areas of interest.

I also plan to earn a Ph.D. in theology because I want to become a religious professor. My passion in life is learning about faith and defending faith.

Regardless of where my career leads me, I will definitely come back to visit First Academy because of the wonderful friends I’ve made here. Because the school is small, it feels like a tight-knit community.

FUN FACTS

• All class: Jonathan maintains a 4.46 grade-point average.
• Passing down knowledge: Parents of middle school and high school students hire Jonathan to tutor their children.