November Students of the Month

Aleksa Gappmayer is a sophomore at Maple Mountain High. Something that makes Gappmayer different from everyone else is that she is self-motivated; she likes to get things done. She also enjoys talking and making new friends and serving others. Gappmayer loves playing basketball, and she also enjoys singing. One of Gappmayer’s favorite subjects is History.  She has always loved history and hopes to one day become a history teacher.  In five years Gappmayer sees herself in college working to get her teaching certificate and majoring in history.  One of Gappmayer’s favorite quotes is, “Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery, but today’s a gift; that’s why it’s called a present.”  She has many more quotes and she likes all of them because, “We all should keep working until we reach our full potential,” says Gappmayer.  She examines herself and always wants to be better.

Jacob Carter is a junior at Maple Mountain High. Something that makes Carter different from the rest is that he tries very hard to be optimistic at all times, in which he usually laughs at his own mistakes and always has to smile. Carter’s favorite subject is pretty much all of his classes; he really enjoys learning. But, if he were to narrow it down, he would have to say biology.  He’s fascinated with how the body works on a molecular level.  Some of Carter’s favorite hobbies include reading, riding motorcycles, making movies, playing computer games with his dad, and hanging out with his friends. Carter’s favorite quote is, “The only thing standing between you and your dreams is the will to try and the faith to believe.” He likes this quote because it reminds him that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to, but you have to be willing to try. Too many people give up because of how large a task or goal may seem. Sometimes we just have to buckle down, work hard, and believe in ourselves. No one has ever accomplished anything sitting around wishing for something to happen. In five years Carter plans on attending Brigham young University and then serving a LDS Mission.

Stephanie Syndergaard is a senior at Maple Mountain High. Something that makes Syndergaard different from everyone else is that she has a twin brother and she goes out of here way to befriend people who may not feel like they fit in with others. Some of Syndergaard favorite hobbies are drawing and trap shooting.  Syndergaard favorite subject is art because she loves to draw, and she loves the fact that she can do it in class.  Syndergaard’s favorite quote is, “Some are born great, others achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.” In five years Syndergaard sees herself in college and maybe being married.

Aimee Vargas is a junior at Maple Mountain High.  Something that makes Vargas different from everyone else is that she has spinal bifida and plays wheelchair basketball. Vargas says her favorite subject in school is Psychology, “I really enjoy Psychology because I love learning about certain things like the behaviors and emotions people may have and why they do things.  Coach Wyatt also makes it really fun.” Some of her favorite hobbies include playing wheelchair basketball, motivating and helping others, singing, and writing. She also enjoys meeting celebrities and going to concerts. Vargas’ favorite quote is by Tyron Edwards which reads, “Thoughts lead on to purposes; purposes go forth in action; actions form habits; habits decide character; and character fixes our destiny.”  In five years Vargas sees herself graduating from college, living on her own, marrying in a LDS temple with a returned missionary, and living a wealthy life with a successful career.

Adam Swasey is a senior at Maple Mountain High.  Some of Swasey’s favorite hobbies are riding his motorcycle, playing the bass, fishing, and shooting. His favorite subject in school is Physics because, “It is the first and best area of learning that can be applied anywhere. It’s magic in the way that it shows you how to use your mind to predict and define how our world exists.”  If Swasey could have a conversation with anyone from history he would choose Einstein so he could ask him about his thoughts on physics. Something that Swasey says makes him different from everyone else is, “I tend to think deeper than most people do; I will talk to myself to introduce or reintroduce an idea, and to exactly define what I think.” In five years he hopes to see himself still going to school and also having an occupation in aerospace design.

Jayson Buhler is a sophomore at Maple Mountain High.  Some of his favorite hobbies include sports, music, and reading.  Soccer has been a life-long activity of his.  He has always loved music and plays several instruments.  Buhler is also involved in the Golden Eagle’s Marching Band and is an avid reader of fantasy/adventure novels.  Buhler reads hundreds of pages each week.  Buhler’s favorite quote is, “The difference between happiness and misery often comes down to an error of only a few degrees,” by Dieter F. Uchtdorf.  He says he likes this quote because, “To me it means that every choice you make alters your path, and even the smallest choice can change everything. You have to be willing to sacrifice things today for more important things in the future.” If Buhler could have a conversation with anyone from history, he would choose Benny Goodman, also known as the “King of Swing.” In five years he sees himself graduated from high school in the top of his class and beginning his advanced studies at Brigham Young University.  He would also like to take a break from his education to serve a mission for the LDS church.