Introducing Grace Wischmeyer!
Grace Wischmeyer, framed by the lights of Chicago.
I am a rising senior at West Leyden High School in Northlake, Illinois. It’s a great school, to be sure, with excellent teachers and a very culturally diverse student body. Many students who graduate from Leyden become the first in their families to attend college; the support and encouragement of our staff make it possible for nearly every student to pursue higher learning if they so choose. Even so, there’s a distinct lack of interest in the STEM -science, technology, engineering, and math- fields among the student body that I find concerning (speaking, of course, as a class-A science fanatic). Through this trip, I hope to expand my peers’ knowledge of the world of science, and, with any luck, convince some to consider pursuing STEM into college and beyond.
Leyden has a wide variety of programs and activities for its students. I’m personally very involved in the music community, having participated in the Concert, Symphonic, Marching, and Jazz bands over the course of the last three years, not to mention the string orchestra. Last year I also played in the pit orchestra for our school’s production of The Wizard of Oz. I love music so much because a) it’s never possible to stop learning, b) it gives me a chance to make something uniquely beautiful, and c) through it, I’ve made some of my closest friends.
Although I’ve been a music student for a very long time, I’ve been swimming for far longer. At age five I was already on a swim team during the school year, and taking swim lessons during the summer (largely taught by my older sisters: it runs in the family). Right now I’m on Leyden’s varsity swim team, and teach lessons throughout the year. In college I hope to pursue swimming, as I would hate to see this important part of my life end with high school. The pool is like my second home.
When I’m not busy with school, I enjoy reading, drawing, gardening, bicycling, and of course spending time with family. I’m the youngest of eight (or “the baby” as my siblings tease), with five nieces and four nephews, so as you can imagine family is very important to me. Spending time with them can be fun, exciting, weird, and sometimes dangerous- but always worthwhile. JSEP 2013 will be the first time I’ve ever traveled without my family, but I’m excited to move outside my comfort zone and really challenge myself with this fantastic opportunity.
Of course, there will be other challenges than just leaving the protective sphere of my family. I’ll be leaving the protective sphere of my country, for one, and traveling to a completely foreign environment that I’ve only ever experienced through pictures. I’ll be working in a team of other young students, facing cultural differences and a language barrier. Perhaps most intimidating of all is the fact that I’ll be entering the program with such a limited knowledge of science. This is such a huge learning opportunity for me, though. I can’t wait to meet all of the other participants, improve my understanding of science, and experience everything I can in Greenland. ... You can be sure I’ll be counting down the days until our departure!