What is your name and grade? My name is Ariel and I’m a senior.

What types of outreach did you do in Skokie/beyond? I’ve been involved in the community through Dance Marathon. It is a big way to get involved with the community, specifically this year. This year, our charity is The Harbor, and it’s just a good charity that has made an impact on the community. I think we should spread more awareness about them.

Do you have any memories of volunteering with your mom, who is a civil rights activist in the community? One thing that we did that was impactful was that when I was younger, we used to go to a Jewish soup kitchen at a synagogue that helped homeless people in the Evanston area.

How do you think volunteering has shaped your outlook on life? Volunteering has shown me the power of helping people. If I needed help, I would want to be helped by someone who can help people. 

What is one thing you would like to say to your freshman self? I would probably tell myself, ‘Don’t put so much pressure on yourself or take all these hard classes, cut yourself some slack. You got this.’

Do you have a set routine after school? It depends on the day. When I’m out of season, it generally means going after school except on Wednesdays. On Wednesdays,I have Dance Marathon after school until 5:30. Afterwards, I go home, do some homework, then watch some television to take a break. Finally, I do some more homework again, then I sleep. 

Why did you join Dance Marathon? I joined DM because my sister who graduated in 2020 told me about it. I went to the first meeting of the W.H.O. Club, then I started freshman year, and I loved it ever since. 

What has been your favorite memory of DM? My favorite memory would probably be May 20, 2021. The first year I joined DM, I missed my first DM night. This was our first night of DM and it had really good weather and people had great energy. It made me want to keep doing work in DM.

Do you think other people should join DM, and why? Yes, because it’s a really good club to show your responsibility. It also just is good for the future, whether that be college apps or life in general. 

How long have you been playing tennis and what kept you playing it? I’ve been playing tennis since I was younger, and I really loved it. When I was in middle school, I’d go to tennis camp at North. From there, I said, ‘I wanna keep playing in high school!’. The coaches were great and the other players were nice so I continued in high school. 

Would you recommend other people join tennis? I would recommend it because it’s a good source of exercise and it is a great environment. Mr. Klamm, the coach, is so nice. We push each other to do better and I think I’ll be playing for the rest of my life. 

What do you think is your biggest takeaway from high school? Honestly, I think it would be to not overextend myself because it just results in burnout. In college, I want to take on things I enjoy and make time for myself.