This week’s Farmer Focus is on junior Jake Herod who is currently the only underclassman competing in Academic Decathlon.

SNAPSHOTS

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what would be the one item you would bring with you?: On a sentimental level, I would probably bring one of my favorite music albums.

Favorite album of all time: “Bat Out Of Hell” by Meatloaf

A show you’ve been watching lately: The Magicians on Syfy channel

Spotify or Apple Music: Spotify

Most interesting thing you’ve read or seen this week: Probably “The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass”

ZOOMING IN

Q: How did you become involved in Academic Decathlon?

A: “I don’t remember explicitly signing up for it. [It was the] middle of summer one day, I came in and my mom was like, ‘I signed you up for the Academic Decathlon.’ And I just went ‘Oh.’”

Q: How do you prepare for competitions?

A: “I study rigorously. We usually meet up either here at school or at the public library and we just review the material.”

Q: From past competitions, what has been the hardest thing?

A: “The hardest thing about the competition wasn’t taking tests or trying to remember everything. It was watching other people at the awards ceremony getting the awards, basically.”

Q: How does it feel being the only junior?

A: “I feel like I have to really prove myself to the others. It was [intimidating] at first, but [the decathletes] have really grown together.”

Q: What is the most difficult event that you compete in and why?

A: “So far we’ve only done the testing. This next meet that’s coming up is going to be the real deal, but we’ve only done the seven basic subjects, and I think of all of them my hardest one is economics.”

Q: What has been your motivation?

A: “Actually I don’t really know what my general motivation is. I would say it’s just the grade, but it’s a little more than that. I feel like I really want to learn.”

Q: Does it ever get hard balancing this class along with the other classes?

A: “It’s been pretty difficult a few times, but I’ve always managed to pull it around. Actually, sometimes it really does get difficult whenever I lack in focus.”

Q: How are the meets like and what does everyone do to prepare for the team?

A: “They’re very peaceful, actually. Because most of the time we’re just taking tests. We all just study, really.”