You may remember Nkongho Beteck from the January issue of YouthSense. When we asked Nkongho, an aspiring journalist, and senior at Wicomico Senior High, in Salisbury, MD,to contribute to this month’s Asset Champion newsletter, she jumped at the opportunity to share her spark and hone her interviewing skills by asking her classmates about their sparks—the things that motivate them and give meaning to their lives. Sit back, and take notes:
“I am passionate about creating a life that I can wake up exited to partake in every morning. [I’ll be] attending college in the fall and graduating with a Master’s degree in Journalism. From there, I hope to begin working at a place that celebrates and highlights my abilities in writing and telling stories to the world. ..”—Nkongho Beteck, grade 12: Aspiring Journalist/Master Storyteller
“My [spark] has caused me intense emotion in my life. I have loved the performing arts since I was a little girl. Just the idea of being on a stage in front of hundreds, maybe thousands of people, gives me a jolt of excitement that you only get when you know it’s something you love…I’m not fearful of showing who I am, what I can do, and how a true performer livens a stage. “— Myleah Lofland, grade 9: SGA President/Performer Extraordinaire
“I’m very passionate about becoming a prosthetist because of an accident my father had at work… [where he lost part of his leg]. Before my father’s accident, I had no idea of what I wanted to do. After I joined him for one of his appointments with the local prosthetist, and I saw how much [he helped my father]. During the summer of my junior year, I volunteered at the prosthetics office to see if I’d like it. Soon, I found that I loved it. The amount of good that I did with just a few patients was an overwhelmingly great feeling. After I built my first leg on my own, I gave it to an elderly man who hadn’t walked in about 20 years. The most satisfying moment was when he turned to me and said, “Son, you’re my hero. You’ve given me my life back.” I’ll never forget those words. That’s when I truly knew what I wanted to be.”— Scott Kephart, grade 12: Altruistic citizen/Robot Designer
“Music is my spark. It wraps around my whole life and gives me something to look forward to. Singing and playing piano are what I love. I have known this ever since I was little. My parents always knew I would turn out to be a singer because I was loud as a baby. Now that I have grown, that screaming has evolved into a singing voice…Music isn’t just a hobby, it’s a lifestyle. It isn’t just a sideshow, it’s the main event. I plan to continue my passion for music and study (and possibly minor in) music in college. “—Susannah Jones-Hochmuth, grade 10: Multi-Talented Musician/Environmentalist
“What am I passionate about? The first thing that comes to mind for me is music; it’s what I devote a lot of time to, work hardest at(which is saying something), and gives me the most enjoyment. I plan on majoring in music. If everything goes my way, I would like to double major in music education and music performance. I play trombone and piano, and taught myself how to play trumpet and baritone. I always have a desire to learn more about music and expose myself to a large variety of genres and styles. Music has shaped my life for the better; allowing me to meet some of my best friends, go places I never would have gone to before, and allowed me to discover my calling.” -Kyle Buchanan, grade 11: Aspiring Career Musician/Honor Student
