Erica Samuel
Age: 18
School: Columbus North High School
Parents: Robert and Indu Samuel; grandparents: Arthur and Sarojini Samuel, Jeyakar and Myrtle Anbudaiyan; sibling: Jeremy Samuel
Which elementary and middle school did you attend?
Lillian Schmitt Elementary School and Northside Middle School
What’s your favorite class or part of the school day and why?
The C4 Biomedical Science Program because they help me engage in what I will be learning in college and the classes are very entertaining as well.
In which extracurricular activities, including music, sports or clubs, do you participate?
I participate in National Honor Society, Youth Leadership of Bartholomew County, HOSA (Future Health Professionals), North High School Concert Band, Columbus North High School Varsity Swim Team and Club Olympia Swim Team. I also do long distance bicycling over the summer and have completed the RAIN Ride (Ride Across Indiana -160-mile bicycle ride) for all four summers of high school before I turned 18.
When you’re not in school, what’s your favorite place to be and why?
My favorite place to be is at the pool for swim practice because I can socialize with my friends, use it as a stress reliever and keep myself focused.
What has been your greatest high school memory so far, and why?
I have been a part of the high school state swim team with the relay but my greatest high school memory was finding out that I got pulled into swimming at state last year for an individual event even though I was very sick at the sectional finals and could not perform my best.
What are you looking forward to after graduation?
I’m looking forward to making new friends in college, swimming for fun and following my dream of getting into the science field.
Who in your life has inspired you or whom do you look up to and why?
My pediatrician, Dr. Linda Guse has inspired me because she is a cancer survivor and had a positive attitude all throughout her treatment process. My parents and coaches have been an inspiration to me because they help me strive to do my best. In swimming, my biggest inspirations are Olympic swimmers Cody Miller because of his resilience, Katie Ledecky because of her amazing accomplishments and Simone Manuel because her height didn’t stop her from winning at the Olympics. But most of all, my inspiration is my brother because he has countless health problems due to Down syndrome and is always smiling.
What is the most important thing you’ve learned during, or from, high school?
The most important thing that I’ve learned from high school is to break things down. A big project, like the senior project, can be overwhelming. But when you break it down, you’ll find that the project will be quick and so easy that you’ll be surprised.
Draw a picture, write a poem or create something that represents you. It can be anything you choose.
"Overcome the impossible. Go forth as inspiration."
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Each school year, The Republic publishes profiles of Bartholomew County high school seniors in the Classrooms section on Mondays. The profile includes a list of questions and answers and a photo of the featured student.
To submit a senior profile, visit your high school counseling office or e-mail reporter Shelby Thomas at [email protected]. Senior profiles are published in the order they are received.
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