In Shakespeare’s comedy As You Like It, the character Jacque begins one of the most famous speeches in theatrical history by musing, “All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players….” The iconic monologue still resonates over 400 years since it was published. For Gabriella Wesolowski, Jacque’s monologue is an excellent description of her academic and extracurricular exploits. 

Wesolowski—Gabby to her friends and family—is a soccer standout at Dublin Jerome High School. The junior forward has been playing for so long, she probably doesn’t remember not playing. “My mom signed me up when I was little for fun,” she says. “I have been playing for 14 years.”

Not surprisingly, Gabby, who is now 17 years old, has gotten pretty good. She played club soccer for Ohio Premier ECNL 2009, which includes top-tier players from around central Ohio. Given her take on the sport, it’s no surprise Gabby is a high-level performer. “I like the determination, competition and discipline it takes to play soccer—and the joy of playing it,” she says.

Gabby’s parents are her top cheerleaders. “They are my biggest motivators,” she says. “They provided me with private lessons, which has helped me grow a lot as a player.” She advises young players to stay motivated, strive to be the best and not compare yourself to others. She personally draws inspiration from the international soccer stars Lamine Yamal from Spain, England’s Phil Foden and Brazil’s Raphinha.

Although she hasn’t played overseas, domestic travel is already a part of Gabby’s blossoming soccer career. She has competed all around the Midwest and from coast to coast. The sport has taken her to San Diego, Seattle, New York, Arizona, St. Louis, Kansas City, Florida, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Colorado, Pennsylvania and several cities in Ohio. Her favorite memory so far is scoring her team’s first goal of the season, which turned out to be the game winner.

Soccer isn’t Gabby’s only amazing talent. She is also an accomplished musician. In fact, she has already made it to Carnegie Hall. Gabby, who plays the viola, auditioned as part of an international competition and was selected to perform on the famous stage with other youth musicians from around the world. 

None of these things happen by accident. Gabby’s extracurricular achievements are an offshoot of her academic excellence. She maintains a place at the top of her class through a rigorous course load heavy in Advanced Placement sciences, demonstrating a particular aptitude for biology and chemistry. 

Her academic success helped her secure a competitive spot in a research internship at The Ohio State University, where she contributed to a microbiology project studying the human microbiome. This experience solidified her passion for biomedical science and gave her an invaluable glimpse into the world of university-level research.

Gabby also takes another leisurely pursuit to the highest level. Her creative and precise touch finds its perfect expression in baking. Gabby’s cakes are celebrated by friends and family for their beautiful, intricate designs and their flawless flavors, often developed through her own patient recipe testing.

In her rare spare moments, Gabby recharges by immersing herself in nature through long hikes or by getting lost in the pages of historical fiction novels. This combination of rigorous scientific inquiry, detailed culinary artistry, and mindful outdoor exploration makes Gabby a well-rounded individual whose curiosity and dedication extend far beyond any single discipline.

To excel academically, get to the top of the soccer world or grace one of the world’s most famous music venues, it takes practice, practice, practice. Whether she’s crushing it in the classroom, scoring on the soccer pitch, baking a scrumptious cake or playing viola at Carnegie Hall, Gabby Wesolowski is hitting all the right notes.