Tierney Fawcett, Lakeland Junior Senior High School
Q: What accomplishments are you most proud of and why?
A: My first big accomplishment was being moved up in school. The fact that I was picked is not what I’m proud of, however. I’m proud of the way I overcame social and emotional barriers in adjusting to entirely new academic environments. My most recent accomplishment was playing the lead in my school musical. Again, I take pride in this not because I was picked, but because of the effort and work I put into gaining and performing this role. Both of these accomplishments highlight my own ability to push forward and work hard in new and challenging environments.
Q: Whom do you most admire and why?
A: I’ve always admired my older sisters. Each of them is successful in amazing ways, and I’ve looked up to them my whole life. Whether it be their fantastic work, their talent for performance, or even just their outgoing personalities, I’ve always tried to model myself after them. Being the youngest of four means I feel a lot of pressure to live up to what my family has done, and the impact they’ve made on our communities before me. This pressure isn’t necessarily negative, though — it pushes me to keep working harder and to be the best version of myself.
Q: What were your most rewarding school or community activities? Why?
A: I found the most personal reward in my involvement with theater and dance. The emotional outlet offered by these activities is something I struggled to find elsewhere, and I genuinely believe I would not have come as far as I have without them. I’ve also made some of my closest bonds through these activities. I found external reward through my work with the National Honor Society, and more specifically, community service. I was heavily involved in the group this year, and that included going on many service trips. I find that the feeling of giving to others is a reward in itself.
Q: What do you do in your spare time?
A: In full honesty, I spend a lot of my spare time napping. When I happen to be awake, I can often be found drawing. Usually, I’ll have something on in the background of this, like a video or a TV show. I’m a fan of cartoons, but occasionally I’ll watch reality shows with my mom. I also spend a lot of time playing video games. I attend a dance studio as well, if that can be counted as a hobby.
Q: What are your plans after high school graduation? Why did you choose this path?
A: I’m attending Northeastern University to study computer science and game development. I knew what I wanted to do with my career pretty early on in life. My father has always worked in computer science, and I really admired his work. So, I knew I wanted to do something with that. This, combined with my love of video games, led to me deciding I wanted to pursue a career in game development.
Q: What is your advice to younger students?
A: Stay curious. School can be a lot, physically and mentally, but it’s important to remember why you’re there. You have an intrinsic desire to learn within you — it’s part of what makes you human. Sometimes, the push and pull of the modern world can make us lose sight of that. If you keep learning, and you keep wanting to learn, you can push back. Knowledge is your greatest power.
Q: Finish this sentence: The most interesting thing about me is …
A: My personality. I’ve been told I’m a bit eccentric — even weird, to a point. I don’t think this is a bad thing, though. I think it just means I’m myself, unpolluted by what others may expect or want of me. I couldn’t really tell you exactly who “myself” is — I’m not sure if anyone can accurately describe themself — but I know that I’m someone people can point out in a crowd.
A little about Tierney Fawcett
Tierney Fawcett of Lakeland Junior Senior High School completed the prestigious Project Lead The Way Computer Science pathway and is a top student who likes to nap. Her school describes her as “driven by a genuine love of learning and a desire to make a positive impact on others.”
The Greenfield Twp. resident is the daughter of Blaine Fawcett and Shannon Fawcett.
Her involvement in drama and dance are important to her.
Tierney was involved in the Cooper Project, an organization that supports families dealing with infant loss and infertility.
Her other activities include the National Honor Society, Future Business Leaders of America, the Special Olympics Polar Plunge, Students Against Destructive Decisions, Unified Tribe and Scholastic Bowl.
Tierney Fawcett (COURTESY OF TIERNEY FAWCETT)