Each week, #SpanningtheNeed will present an “Inspirational Person of the Week’ and have a “Q & A” with one of its many gifted individuals and/or groups who are willing to go out of their own way to help others.
As the spring season blooms with vibrant colors and the promise of new beginnings, it’s a time of celebration for many communities. Among the myriad of joyous occasions, one particularly special event stands out – the graduation of high school seniors. This year, as we bid farewell, our local area high schools are taking a step further and Spanning the Need is honoring and spotlighting the achievements of these bright young minds. This week’s featured is Natalia Gonzalez from Northeastern Ohio Impact Academy, as part of Campbell School District.
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Name: Natalia Gonzalez
School: Northeastern Ohio Impact Academy (Campbell, Ohio)
Class: 2024
GPA: 3.918
Bio:
Natalia is 17 years old and a senior at the Northeastern Ohio Impact Academy in Campbell, Ohio. She spends her after-school time drawing cartoons, animating, and consuming lots of fantasy media. She loves the arts and is frequently engage in theater.
What are your plans after graduation?
After graduation, I plan on going to Kent State University and to live on campus.
What is your favorite class?
My favorite class is CCP Psychology because I like learning how our brain works.
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Beyond academics, what extracurricular activities, volunteering in the community or passions have played a crucial role in your high school life, and how have they influenced your future goals?
Something that played a crucial role in my life was the YSU English Festival. I love going to the festival each year because I can bond with hundreds of strangers who all read the same books that I had. The English Festival has influenced my goals by giving me many well-written books that have inspired me to write my own stories and possibly get to see those stories on the big screen someday.
Why is the most memorable moment in your scholastic career?
The most memorable moment in my scholastic career would have to be my school’s student body court debates. Specifically when it was time to do my speech. I was extremely nervous and I will never forget how I wrapped up my campaign with a perfect bow.
As you reflect on your time in high school, is there a teacher or mentor who made a lasting impression on you? What made their impact so meaningful?
A teacher who made a lasting impression on me would have to be my old English teacher, Mrs. Valingo. She was always encouraging and showed interest in things that I made when many others did not.
What is your favorite sports-related movie?
My favorite sports-related movie is definitely Space Jam or The Sandlot.
What is your favorite food?
My favorite food has to be pastelillos.
What song best describes you or is the soundtrack to your life?
I feel like the song that best describes my life at the moment is Passing Through by Kaden Mackay.
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Do you have a field of study already chosen when you go to college? Why that field?
The field of study I’ve chosen is Animation/Game Design because I love animation and game design and either of those mediums would be wonderful to help tell stories.
Who is your role model?
My role model would have to be my uncle.
If there were one person you would want to meet, past or present, who would it be and why?
The one person I would want to meet would be Toby Fox because I would he has made two video games that have been very important in getting me to love fantasy and to want to make games and/or stories of my own.
A favorite quote by which you live.
“Jack of all trades master of none, though oftentimes better than master of one.”
