While anxious freshmen overwhelm themselves with numerous sports and activities, upperclassmen cannot help but watch and laugh. Seniors reminisce about the times that they too felt the obligation to become as involved as possible in high school. Even though most were eventually forced to accept the fact that their schedules could only handle so much, senior Lynn Hu has managed to carry a full slate of activities throughout her entire high school career.
Since the beginning of her freshman year, Hu has been a member of both the tennis and track and field teams. Her strong mentality and work ethic has been the driving force behind her success with the sport.
“It may sound cliché, but I owe a large part of my success to continuing to stay positive through each workout and race,” Hu said. “Running is 90 percent mental – the more you concentrate on pain or difficulty, the harder the workout will seem.”
Her hard work and dedication has allowed her to not only be successful but also become a positive leader for others. She currently serves as one of the captains for this year’s squad.
However, Hu’s positive influence does not simply fall on the track. After joining Flyspace her sophomore year, she now has found herself as a captain of the improv team. Collectively, the two positions have challenged her schedule and leadership skills, but Hu is appreciative of the opportunities she has been given.
“I have been a part of both activities long enough to understand how practice works and how to improve the team’s skills, and I try to deliver my experience from past years to newcomers,” Hu said. “Because I enjoy both staying active and the theater, I always loved my involvement in track and field and Flyspace.”
In addition to improv and athletics, Hu joined jazz band as a pianist this year and has been thankful for the memories she has been able to create.
“I have had some great experiences with them and learned how many cool people there are in band,” Hu said. “Considering my classical experience, jazz was relatively new for me, but [Mr. Doug] Hoover and the other musicians welcomed me.”
Though the impression she leaves on others is significant, what is perhaps most remarkable is the fact that Hu has been able to balance good grades with all of her extra activities.
“It wasn’t easy, and I did lose a bit of sleep as I tried to finish homework after a long day. However, I learned to manage my time wisely and finish whatever work I could during school,” Hu said. “Once you enjoy everything you do, it becomes less like work.”