Driven to Succeed: Meet Six Grads With One Powerful Future

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined." -Henry David Thoreau

Cadence Kross
Desert Mountain High School

Your plans after graduation, and what excites you most?  To attend the Savannah College of Art and Design to major in fashion design and minor in fibers. I’m excited to live among other creative-minded people and to learn more about fashion.
  
What accomplishments are you most proud of?   I am most proud of how much my art skills have grown and the amazing artworks I’ve created.

Who has had the biggest impact on your journey, and why?   My family is super supportive of everything I do, especially my future in art. They have also inspired many of my artworks and always push me to be my best!

What activities, sports, or clubs were you involved in, and how did they shape your experience?   I ran my school fashion club, pickleball club, and was in NHS, SNHS, SHH, and DECA. Being involved helped me become a more confident leader, strengthen my problem-solving skills, volunteer in my community, meet new people, and have fun.

What is one lesson you learned in high school that you’ll carry with you into the future?  What you get out of an experience is based on what you put in.

What advice would you give to incoming freshmen or younger students?  Everyone says it, and I did not believe it, but appreciate it and make the most of high school because it will go by so fast!
 
Catcher Dahm
Notre Dame Preparatory
 
Your plans after graduation, and what excites you most?  I will be attending Anderson University in South Carolina, and playing on their golf team.

What accomplishment are you most proud of?   Making the golf team, junior and senior year.  I was also chosen to lead a leadership retreat, Kairos, and it was an incredible experience. 
  
Who has had the biggest impact on your journey, and why?   It’s hard to pick one person. I am grateful to have such an encouraging and loving family. I have also had amazing friends and teachers who have helped me become the person I am today.
  
What activities, sports, or clubs were you involved in, and how did they shape your experience?   I got to play baseball my freshman year and then finished by playing golf the last couple years. I am so grateful for the friendships that came from my teammates.  
 
What is one lesson you learned in high school that you’ll carry with you into the future? 
I’ve learned a lot the last four years, but the one thing I will carry with me throughout my life is the importance of my faith.   Also, pressure is a privilege!
  
What advice would you give to incoming freshmen or younger students?   Get involved. Have fun. And make the most of it.

Karina Hu
Chaparral High School
 
Your plans after graduation, and what excites you most?  After graduation, I will be attending the University of Arizona and majoring in nursing! I’m most excited about meeting new people and working toward a career where I can help others and make a positive impact on their life. 
 
What accomplishment are you most proud of?   Looking back, I’m most proud of being a part of my dance team for four years and contributing to winning four state titles and two national championships for Pom and Gameday. It represents years of hard work, dedication, and teamwork. 
 
Who has had the biggest impact on your journey, and why?   The biggest impact on my journey has been my parents. They’ve always been my constant support system, encouraging me to work hard and keep pushing me towards my goals. No matter what challenges I’ve faced, they’ve been there to guide me and remind me to stay focused and be confident in myself. 
 
What activities, sports, or clubs were you involved in, and how did they shape your experience?   I was involved in my school's student government and was a member of my dance team all four years. These experiences helped me grow as a leader, taught me responsibility and time management, and showed the importance of teamwork and commitment. 
 
What is one lesson you learned in high school that you’ll carry with you into the future?  One lesson I’ll carry with me is that hard work and consistency truly pay off. Staying committed, even when things get difficult, make a huge difference in achieving your goals. 
 
What advice would you give to incoming freshmen or younger students?  My advice would be to get involved, step out of your comfort zone, and don’t take any moment for granted. High school goes by so quickly, so make the most of every opportunity and surround yourself with people who support and motivate you!
 
Grace Mikalsky
Shadow Mountain High School

Your plans after graduation, and what excites you most?   I plan on going to the hospitality program at Cornell University and starting a restaurant consulting business for food allergies and auto-immune diseases.

What accomplishment are you most proud of?   I am most proud of winning the Presidential Volunteer Service Award for completing over 100 hours of volunteering in a year.

Who has had the biggest impact on your journey, and why?   My parents have always supported me and given me a positive environment to thrive in.

What activities, sports, or clubs were you involved in, and how did they shape your experience?  Being co-president of Imprints of Honor has given me a lot of perspective on what veterans sacrifice and the importance of always being grateful for that. The North Valley Arts Academy has given me a deeper appreciation for the arts and staying creative. The Developing Authentic Academics through Purposeful Scholars program(DAAPS) has given me the self-confidence to pursue my passions.

What is one lesson you learned in high school that you’ll carry with you into the future?   I have learned a lot about growth and not stopping when one idea doesn't work out. 

What advice would you give to incoming freshmen or younger students?   Don't be nervous to do weird things and pursue your interests, high school is a time to discover your individuality.
 
Chloe Knutsen
Arizona Agribusiness and Equine Center - Paradise Valley

Your plans after graduation, and what excites you most?  I'm committed to Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. I will be majoring in neuroscience on the pre-med track! I'm most excited about being in such a prime location for research, hospitals, and social groups.

What accomplishment are you most proud of?  At the start of this school year, I began a senior capstone project with a goal to address substance abuse and mental health issues in teens. I was able to raise around one thousand dollars for a non-profit organization called NotMYKid, which provides therapy and early intervention, and donate 24 boxes of Narcan, a life-saving nasal spray that reverses opioid overdoses, to schools and libraries across the Valley.
 
Who has had the biggest impact on your journey, and why?  My mom has impacted me the most with her endless support and encouragement. Regardless of whether I was succeeding or struggling, she cheered me on and helped whenever possible. She made sure to show up to events that were important to me, and I don't know where I'd be without her!

What activities, sports, or clubs were you involved in, and how did they shape your experience?  In school, I'm the vice president of our National Honor Society chapter and Red Cross Club. These leadership positions have helped me improve my professional communication skills, time management, and responsibility. I've also made good friends that I hope to stay in touch with even after we part for college. Outside of school, I participated in various volunteer events and found my passion for helping others in my community. I also play tennis and have my second-degree black belt in Taekwondo.
 
What is one lesson you learned in high school that you’ll carry with you into the future?  I think one of the most valuable lessons I learned in high school was the importance of staying disciplined. It's easy to stay on task and fulfill responsibilities when things are going well, but nobody can abandon them in times of difficulty. I learned to show up even when times get hard, which will be an extremely crucial trait I must have as I enter the field of medicine.
 
What advice would you give to incoming freshmen or younger students?  My biggest piece of advice would be to step out of your comfort zone. Whether it's talking to someone you want to become friends with, joining a club, taking on a leadership position, or finding ways to benefit your community, getting out of your comfort zone can only help you. I definitely feel like I've grown the most by doing things that made me nervous.

Lola Zagoury
Notre Dame Preparatory
 
Your plans after graduation, and what excites you most? After graduation, I plan to attend Tulane University and major in business. I am most excited to meet new people, experience a new city, and grow both academically and personally. I hope to build a successful career while also creating a meaningful life with strong relationships.
 
What accomplishment are you most proud of?  I’m most proud of how much I’ve grown as a person. I became more confident and learned to step outside of my comfort zone through activities like pom and leadership roles. That personal growth means so much to me because it showed me that I am capable of becoming the best version of myself.
 
Who has had the biggest impact on your journey, and why?  My family and closest friends have had the biggest impact on me. They’ve always supported and encouraged me, helping me stay grounded and confident. Their constant support shaped who I am today. They’ve taught me the importance of loyalty, support, and being there for others. Having such a strong support system has shaped who I am and given me confidence in everything I do.
 
What activities, sports, or clubs were you involved in, and how did they shape your experience?  I was involved in pom, dance honors society, lacrosse, NHS, and math honors society. These activities taught me teamwork, discipline, and leadership. They helped me grow more confident and connected to my community. All of these experiences shaped my high school years and helped me become more confident, driven, and connected to my community.
 
What is one lesson you learned in high school that you’ll carry with you into the future?  One important lesson I’ve learned is the value of empathy and perspective. High school showed me that everyone is dealing with something, even if you can’t see it. Taking the time to listen and understand others has helped me build stronger relationships and become a better friend and leader. I’ve also learned that how you treat people matters just as much as what you achieve. That mindset is something I’ll carry with me into college and the rest of my future.
 
What advice would you give to incoming freshmen or younger students?  I would say don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and try new things. It is so important to get involved in your school by going to sports games, running for leadership roles, and joining clubs because it makes your high school experience so much more fun even if it feels “uncool” to participate, you don’t want to graduate and regret not being a part of something so fun. I would also say high school goes by quickly, so make the most of it. Focus on growing and enjoying the experience instead of comparing yourself to others.
 
"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." -Eleanor Roosevelt