Senior Kenhwi Kim
Q: What does being recognized in the National Merit Scholarship Program mean to you?
A: “I mean it’s pretty nice. It’s like a status symbol for you.”
Q: How did you find out? How did you feel?
A: “I’m definitely surprised but I don’t really care too much about it because I already got the college thing figured out so I don’t have to worry about spending.”
Q: What did you do to help improve your test scores leading up to it? What does it take to get the award?
A: “It takes a lot of practice. My parents made me go to a study school where we took a test once a week. After each test we had to review the things we got wrong. During the week we had to go over commonly missed questions and subjects.”
Q: What are your college and career plans?
A: “I plan to go to a four-year undergraduate course and after that become a physical therapist which requires three years of schooling. I’m really interested in biology and how the body works so I think I’ll like it.”
Q: What activities are you involved in at school? Anything outside of school?
A: “At school I’m involved in Mu Alpha Theta and National Honor Society.”
Q: How will this award affect your life/future?
A: “It’ll probably help pay for college.”
Q: What has been your biggest obstacle academically? Any specific class? How did you overcome it?
A: “Finding the motivation to do my work. I’m not sure if I overcame it but I’m doing my work still so that’s fine. The amount of work isn’t overbearing, but I’m bad at managing time so I do everything last minute.”
Q: Who in your life has helped you reach this point? How did they help you?
A: “My brother helped me a lot because he also took the same classes so he was able to give me advice on what to do and the college process.”
Q: What is your advice to others hoping to be National Merit Scholars?
A: “I think a major part was my test scores, PSAT and SAT scores, so just practicing and focusing a lot on that.”
Q: What class/outside of school tutoring prepared you the most?
A: “The prep school I went to, Elite Prep, helped me prepare the most.”
Q: Do you have any good study tips for the standardized tests?
A: “Practice is key. Take a bunch of practice tests and analyze what you did wrong.”