[slideshow_deploy id=’84194′]To senior Nicole Swegheimer, it takes hard work perseverance and dedication to maintain a stellar grade point average. She dedicated herself to becoming valedictorian in middle school.
“I decided in eighth grade that I wanted to be a valedictorian. I wanted to prove to myself that I can accomplish anything I set my mind to,” Swegheimer said. “[My biggest motivator was] my family [who] encouraged me to maintain my grades.”
Beyond her academics, Swegheimer participated in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Young Republicans, Spanish Club, Spanish Honor Society and National Honor Society.
As a senior, she led FCA as the co-chairperson of the Prayer Committee. She organized prayer at the pole, led a girls Bible study, and led a group of students in prayer before each FCA huddle.
While Swegheimer believed that academic dedication was key to success, she also wanted to remind other students to enjoy their years in school.
“[I would advise underclassmen] to work hard in their classes and be present, enjoy every situation in your four years of high school because you’ll be a senior before you know it,” Swegheimer said.
AP Calculus AB, which Swegheimer took her senior year, was both her favorite and most challenging course in high school.
“Even though it’s a difficult class, Dr. Tachon teaches the material very well,” Swegheimer said. “I have to study really hard.”
Her fondest memories from school came from her experiences at sports games.
“At sporting events, hearing people yell ‘Brave’ at the end of the National Anthem sent chills up my spine filling me with Boone pride,” Swegheimer said.
Looking beyond her experiences in high school, Swegheimer gained experience in mission work this past summer in Guatemala, where she built stoves for people to cook food safely, as she hoped to expand her work as a missionary in and after college.
“I would like to start my own nonprofit missionary organization and travel on mission trips [after college],” Swegheimer said.
She will study marketing at Baylor University in the fall.