OUTSTANDING STUDENT

PEOPLE

Emily Curatolo

No test is too tough for UF freshman who always strives for academic excellence.

INTERVIEWER: JAMES COMBS ≈ PHOTO: DOUGLAS TYLER

• Graduated from East Ridge High School in 2020. • Maintained a 5.2 grade-point average. • Completed 14 advanced placement (AP) classes. • Now a freshman at the University of Florida.

You took many college-level classes at East Ridge. How did you balance that with a social

life? I’m pretty introverted and not really a social person in general. I would really a social person in general. I would make an organized agenda for each day. make an organized agenda for each day. Some nights I would stay up studying Some nights I would stay up studying until 4am and get two hours of sleep. until 4am and get two hours of sleep. However, I think that sacri ce was worth However, I think that sacri ce was worth it. I was very dedicated and wanted to it. I was very dedicated and wanted to challenge myself. challenge myself.

How did you feel about receiving a $10,000 scholarship from Project $10,000 scholarship from Project Scholars, a nonprofi t organization Scholars, a nonprofi t organization

in Clermont? I was shocked. in Clermont? Truthfully, I had forgotten I even applied Truthfully, I had forgotten I even applied for that scholarship because I was busy for that scholarship because I was busy lling out so much paperwork for college. lling out so much paperwork for college. To be chosen as one of four recipients out To be chosen as one of four recipients out of hundreds who applied was a big honor. of hundreds who applied was a big honor.

Why did you choose to attend the University of Florida? University of Florida? My brother,

who is six years older than me, attended who is six years older than me, attended UF. Growing up, my family would go visit UF. Growing up, my family would go visit him in Gainesville and attend football and him in Gainesville and attend football and basketball games. I always envisioned basketball games. I always envisioned myself going there. myself going there.

What is your proudest accomplishment as a student? accomplishment as a student?

My volunteer work. I volunteered at an assisted-living facility in Clermont and met so many interesting people. I would plan events, play trivia games with the residents and plan Halloween parties. I felt I made a di erence in their lives, and that made me proud.

assisted-living facility in Clermont and met so many interesting people. I would plan events, play trivia games with the residents and plan Halloween parties. I

It was unfortunate that the coronavirus hit during your senior year of high school. How did you

cope? It was upsetting that we didn’t get a prom or graduation bash, but we did have a graduation ceremony a few months later. I think that helped provide some closure that seemed to be missing.

Did going through that adversity teach you a life lesson? Going through

that showed me what is important in life and what we should value. The connection with your friends and family is much more powerful than a graduation bash or prom.

Your generation is known for being technologically savvy and frequent users of social media. Do you prefer face-to-face interaction or communicating electronically? I

prefer face-to-face. There’s just something about laughing with someone in person and getting to look into their eyes and really connecting with each other.

What are your future plans? I want

to be in a medical-related eld to help people. I am still deciding whether to major in biomedical engineering, biochemistry or pre-med biology. I’m leaning toward biomedical engineering, which would allow me to create technologies that are therapeutic.

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