We asked our GHS National Merit Semifinalists to answer a few questions to get to know them better, below are the answers from Alexia “Alex” Potter:

How much have you pushed yourself academically in high school regarding class choices and scheduling? Are there others who have pushed or encouraged you?

My parents have always pushed me to be my best, along with my teachers and I have held myself to a high standard. I have been highly involved in the music program at GHS, along with taking some IB classes. I am currently taking a math independent study and will take Calculus II at Goshen College next semester. I am grateful for the invaluable lessons I’ve learned by being a part of so many different programs at the high school, and it has really pushed me in terms of time management and becoming more well-rounded.

How much time do you spend studying?

I spend a lot of my time studying and doing schoolwork, but I try to plan ahead so it stays manageable. I also avoid doing anything school related on Sundays, which has been very beneficial for my mental health, as I have used the day to reset and spend time with my family. Like Matthew also said, I study until I understand something, so it really varies depending on the class and topic.

Do you feel that SRT (Student Resource Time) is a valuable tool for students? If so, why?

I think that SRT is a very valuable tool for students. It has given me the opportunity to be involved in student council, key club, national honor society, youth caucus, and other clubs that I would not have had the time to participate in otherwise. It also makes homework much more manageable, and I have really appreciated it this year with college applications and getting help from my classmates, teachers, and counselors.

What do you like to do with your free time?

In my free time I like to hang out with my friends, watch movies, bake cookies, go thrift shopping, play the cello, and listen to music. If I’m with my friends, I’ll have fun no matter what we’re doing!

What are your plans for next year and beyond?

After high school, I’m going to serve as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints for 18 months, but I’m not sure if I want to go to college for a year first or just wait until afterwards. I want to study mathematics and I am undecided on the college, but I’m thinking about MIT, Princeton, or Brigham Young University.

What is the best thing about Goshen schools? What is the worst?

I think that the best thing about Goshen Schools is the atmosphere and how involved you can become through sports, music, clubs, and other organizations. I have been able to meet a lot of different people and make lots of friends, and I’m really glad that it isn’t the type of place where you can only do one or two things. The teachers, coaches, and directors all work with each other to allow students to be involved in as many things as possible, and that has been super useful to me as I’ve tried to figure out my interests and future plans. One thing that I think Goshen Schools could improve on is with scheduling and availability of classes, because I’ve missed out on some classes I would have liked to take because it was only offered one period, and a wider range of AP and IB classes would be nice as well.

In addition to cross country and orchestra, Alex is involved in track & field, Crimsonaires, advanced choir, academic super bowl, and the school musical. As you can see, Alex is very involved in school, she admittedly holds herself to high standards, and she is using her time at GHS to experience as much as possible.

She prepared for the ACT and received a perfect score! See the Elkhart Truth article here: https://www.elkharttruth.com/news/goshen-student-earns-top-act-score/article_a067748f-8042-5315-b345-5fee6d50cb76.html

Congratulations to Alex Potter on being named one of only four National Merit Semifinalists in Elkhart County. GCS wishes you the best as you complete your senior year and step into your future!