RC Chatter

Senior Spotlight

February

Ana Smith

The Senior Spotlight winner for the month of February is Ana Smith. Ana is the daughter of Jeff and Jordan Smith.

During her high school career, Ana was involved in FCCLA, Student Council, Math Team, RPO, World Culture Club and Basketball. She was also the Co-President of National Honor Society, an Academic Challenge Team Regional Champion in Chemistry, ICE Academic All-Conference in Basketball, on the High Honor Roll, was named a Student of the Month, participated in the ICE Leadership Conference, and is an Illinois State Scholar.

Her future plans are “to study pre-nursing at the University of Illinois-Chicago and become a Nurse Practitioner.”

Here are a few thoughts from Ana’s teachers.

Ms. Will says that Ana is “such a hard worker! She is bright, funny, and reliable.” Mrs. Meyr thinks that Ana “has always been nothing but kind and respectful when I see her. She is a hard-worker and a wonderful role model for her peers. Ana does anything that is asked of her and is extremely helpful.” Mrs. Rankin believes that Ana is “kind, smart, and diligent. She is someone you can always count on and who brings out the best in everyone around her. She is an absolute pleasure to have in class.” Ms. Baron has “been so impressed by Ana’s incredible work ethic, unmatched creativity, and fantastic sense of humor.  Over the last year, Ana has really pushed her work to another level.  Whether it’s in the ceramics studio or the digital lab, Ana is always seeking advice on how to grow as an artist.  She never hesitates to experiment with a new idea or a complex technique.  Ana’s ability to balance being an “S-tier” student with being a genuinely kind, funny, and grounded individual is inspiring.  From her restaurant and travel recommendations to comical claims of my ceramic sketch plan assignments being “propaganda”, I’ve enjoyed many laughs with her in the classroom over the years.  I have no doubt that Ana is bound for incredible things in the future. The world is lucky to have her talent and heart.” Mrs. Lee appreciates that Ana is “an amazing student, role model, and all-around person who genuinely cares about learning. She is extremely driven, hardworking, and talented. Ana is a student who has continuously gone out her way to help others and is the first to volunteer for something in our school. My favorite thing about Ana is her positive attitude and joy she brings with her each day. I can always count on her to brighten my day. Ana is a great role model for all of our students at RC, and I cannot wait to see what she continues to do after high school!” Ms. Watkins says that, “even though I have not taught Ana until this year, she still has impressed me with her hard work, creativity, and sense of humor. Ana always puts her all into her work. She is always willing to go the extra mile to achieve truly unique and meaningful artwork. I wish her all the best in her future!” Mr. Gleixner thinks that Ana is “a great example of a student-athlete. She is always a positive person no matter the situation. She is definitely the type of student that younger Comets can look up to and emulate.” Although she has never had Ana in class, Ms. Mountain has “gotten to know her through basketball. She is so much fun to have on the team and always gives 100%. When she sets her mind on something, she can accomplish anything that comes her way! I know she will be successful because of how hardworking she is!” Mr. Kristofer acknowledges that Ana is “a hardworking and diligent student with a great attitude who contributes positive energy greatly to the school environment!” Ms. Giffin says “last year, I was a new teacher to the District. Ana was in the JJC speech class and was immediately warm and welcoming. What impressed / impresses me most about Ana is her willingness to play a supportive role. She doesn’t have to be the smartest, loudest, or fastest. She is intrinsically motivated by her own high standards and expectations. When challenges arise, she doesn’t complain or blame-shift; she simply works harder. This quality is what sets her apart and will ensure her future success.

Mrs. Zwolinsky has, “had the pleasure of knowing Ana for 4 years playing basketball at RCHS. Over the four years, she has showed tremendous growth as a player, but even more as a person. She has such a fun-loving personality and is someone we can always count on as being a helping hand. She works hard to get better daily and is a role model to her peers. I am so excited to see what Ana accomplishes after graduation and beyond!”

As a final thought, Ana’s advice to younger students is, “Pay attention to what gives you energy and what drains you. Some classes, people, and habits will do that to you, while others will make you feel more like yourself. I’ve found that you never know what’s heavy until you put it down.”

On behalf of the teachers and staff at RCHS, we would like to congratulate Ana Smith as the February winner of the Senior Spotlight.