What is an accomplishment that you are proud of?
Chloe: I would say cheer. I joined the competition team my junior year, and we went to states junior year, and we went to states again senior year in both of our divisions. So that is an amazing accomplishment. I never thought I would be a state champion, it’s kind of weird to say that, but yeah. Another thing is that I’m really proud of myself for being able to recognize when people aren’t good for me and taking that step back, and obviously still being friendly, but taking that step back for myself. Sometimes not everyone is going to be the right friend for you, and so being able to recognize that and take that step back, I feel like is hard for a lot of people, but I was able to do it.
Which year of high school was your favorite and why?
I would say sophomore year. So my freshman year was online, and I didn’t really get to go to school, but my sophomore year I came back, everything was just so new. I had that freshman excitement even though I was a sophomore because I was coming to school for the first time. I saw all my friends, everybody was friends with each other, we would walk down the hallway and we would all say “hi” to each other. Everybody was so excited to see each other after being stuck at home for almost about 2 or 3 years. So sophomore was definitely my favorite; things were simpler then.
What is one thing you would tell your freshman self?
I would tell her to join the competition team as soon as she could, like sophomore year coming back [after COVID], because I kind of regret not joining earlier, because I really really loved it. I would also tell her to make good choices.
What is a lesson that being in high school has taught you?
Being in high school taught me the value of a genuine and true friendship. So my two best friends, they don’t go here, but we met when we were in middle school and we’re still super super close and they are completely and absolutely my people. I can talk to them about anything, I can be myself around them, and I just feel really comfortable around them. I feel like when you’re in high school, sometimes you are friends with people only because you want someone to hang out with, or just because you wan’t company, or just because you feel like you have to be. But after a while, you’ll go through different friend groups, and different people, and you’ll realize. Or what I realized with my two best friends is that they’re absolutely the people for me. So basically, to sum it all up, I would say it’s okay to pull back when you feel like people aren’t good for you. Just, find good friends.
If you had senioritis, how hard did it hit you?
So I didn’t really have senioritis I would say, because the first semester of senior year is all about college applications. So you’re always on top of your work, you’re getting things in on the deadline, and there’s strict deadlines for college applications…. For me, I’m a really time anxious person, so I’m very, very good with deadlines. So with all the college application deadlines, I was done like two weeks before. I started my college essay in summer, I was very “One, two, three” and on top of everything. I really didn’t have senioritis, in the beginning of the year, and honestly no senior really does because we’re all so stressed about applying for colleges. But now that we’re in the second semester, I’m still a time anxious person and very good with deadlines, so I still get all of my work in on time.
I’m taking an AP class right now, and I’m taking a Syracuse class right now. But my schedule is pretty valid still, I have gym and I also have philosophy which are two pretty free classes, so I still get things done. But I don’t think senioritis has really hit me yet, I think maybe when we get to June it might. 
Is there anything you wish you did more or differently in high school?
No because I’m a strong believer that everything happens for a reason, and yeah it’s corny or whatever, but I really do think that all the things that I’ve done, and every trial that I’ve been through, and every person that I’ve met, was all part of the plan as to why I am here. With the way that I feel, and the way that things are going. Which they’re going pretty good, so I don’t regret anything. I’m very appreciative of my experience here.
What are you most excited for after graduating and why?
I’m just so excited for college. I’m going to Rutgers, and that campus has like 25 thousand people, which a lot of people don’t like. But I love that [large student body], because no matter what, there’s going to be people for you, there’s going to be a friend group for you, you’re going to find people that you enjoy being around because there’s so many people there. And I think that there is someone for everyone. So I can’t wait to meet new people, be in a new environment, and to do college things. I also can’t wait to be in a college lecture hall, I’m just so excited.
Who is your biggest inspiration and why?
Definitely, 100%, my mom. She is so hardworking and she doesn’t need to tell me, I just observe the way that she is, and I can just see how hardworking of a woman she is. She never gives up, she’s so selfless, she always puts me and my brother first, and she’s always working. My mom doesn’t have a super amazing job, but she still tries her best in everything that she does, and I feel like I can learn a lot from her because of that. Whenever I do something, I can say that I don’t care about it, but deep down inside, I’m still putting all my effort that I can into it, and that’s because I see that in my mom. In every little task that she does, she’s always doing her best. So she’s just very hardworking, and I feel like everyone needs a person in their life that’s like my mom. She’s seriously amazing. I wish to be half the person that she is in the future.
Will you miss high school? Why or why not?
Probably not. I will definitely miss cheer so much. I watch our state’s performance occasionally, and it just makes me miss being in the uniform and being on the mat. But I don’t think I’ll miss high school because I’m just ready to graduate. There’s a whole new world, and a whole new step waiting for me, and I just can’t wait for that. I’m just thinking about that [the future], and I’m not really thinking about high school anymore. When the first day of senior year rolled around, I was like, “I’m done now. This is it, graduate me already.”
Out of all the extracurricular activities you’ve participated in, which is your favorite and why?
I have to talk about cheer again, the experience that it gave me in high school was like no other, and to have something to put your time and effort in is just really good. It forced me to workout two hours a day, it taught me dedication and commitment, because if you’re going to do something and commit more than six months or more out of the 10 months of school, including the two months of summer practice, you have to really be committed to it. So that taught me the value of commitment, and if you’re going to do something, you have to do it all the way, you can’t just stop in the middle. You know, it’s a very empowering sport. I really did enjoy it and I’m going to miss it.
