Owen Class of 2025
Where are you from?
I have grown up all over. I have lived in Muncie, Carmel, Redlands (Southern California) and I moved back to Muncie just a few years ago.
How did you first hear about the Academy?
My previous school was Burris Laboratory School so for my whole time at Burris I had been aware of the presence of the Indiana Academy. So I had known people and had friends who had left Burris for the Academy who made me aware of it even more.
What made you decide to apply?
Having heard all the benefits from the Academy students I had done things (classes, clubs, and so on) helped a lot in my decision. And I personally was not feeling challenged at my previous school so I wanted to attend a school where I could immerse myself in classes that were able to help me grow and expand beyond my current limitations to push myself to become a more independent and out of the box thinker. Also to be able to take classes that aligned more with my interests so I could get more hands on experience for my future career endeavors. I also have done classes, extracurricular with Academy students during my time at Burris and they were able to tell me about all of the benefits that the Academy had to offer and hearing all those good things made me concrete in my decision to apply.
What is your greatest memory about your time at the Academy?
My greatest memory during my time at the Academy would either be the Kings Islands trip we took last year in October or the dances that we had. I just remember that it was the most fun I had on a school trip in a long time and the dance was one of the most enjoyable dances I had been to due to the music, food, and just getting to have fun around people like me was the most memorable part.
What are some of your extracurricular activities?
Some of my extracurriculars are that I am the President of Mattel Club, member of ASU, MENASU, I’ve done Student Council and Future Problem Solvers in the Past. I’ve done Varsity Swim, I have been a Member of the Burris/Indiana Academy Orchestra. I am also an Ambassador for the Academy. I have also worked and volunteered at the Muncie Mission (Attic Window Thrift Stores) as well.
How has the Academy prepared you for life?
I feel the Academy has prepared me in the aspect of the reality of a college schedule and workload so it has taught me a lot about time management and how to balance my school work and personal life and with that I feel that my transition to college will be much smoother. I also feel that the Academy was able to push me beyond my current limits and has made me much more of an analytical thinker when it comes to works such as writings, images and so on. Lastly, I feel that I have been prepared in the way of meeting people from all walks of life and learning on how to connect with individuals on a much deeper level and being able to connect beyond surface level interests.
What are your plans after graduation?
My plans after graduation as of currently is to pursue a career in School Admissions and Outreach. Which I have been able to firsthand learn about with all the student opportunities to connect with members on the admissions team. It is undecided as to where I will be attending school as of currently due to waiting for decisions from certain schools.
Anything else you want to share?
My personal mantra is to not stress on what could have been or don’t stress too much on the past because everything happens for a reason and though it might not be a fun experience it’s still worth something. And when you take a deep breath and look around you realize that you are still living, the world is still spinning so just keep moving forward and trying your best. As long as you try your best that is all that matters and no one can take that from you. Lastly, you are your own person and do not feel a need to compare yourself to the person taking over 7 classes. If you are successful in your own way, that is the only way that matters. Success looks different on everyone so don’t compare yourself to someone else’s version.