What is your name and grade level? Haktan Erel, Freshman.

What sports do you play? Volleyball and swimming, although volleyball is my main sport. It is very spirited and dynamic, something that I enjoy a lot. I also love the team aspect of the activity, whether it be at school or club.

What is your favorite food? Definitely a juicy, tender, moist, thick burger.

What’s your favorite memory from Freshman year? Winning against West in volleyball; it was hype. It was very suspenseful, as it went down to the third set. It was very close, but after a lot of effort, we managed to win against the rival school.

What is your greatest accomplishment? Making the JV volleyball team as a freshman. It wasn’t easy, but after much work and practice off-season, I was able to become a starter on the esteemed team.

If you could meet anyone in the world, alive or deceased, who would it be? Kobe Bryant, because of his work ethic. I would definitely want to get tips from him, whether it be on sports, life in general, or anything else. I am very saddened that he passed away three years ago.

What are your five biggest values? I have five chief values that have guided me in life so far. They include food, water, family and friends, volleyball, and sleep.

If you could buy anything in the world, what would it be? I would buy my own volleyball gym so that I could practice whenever I want without other people interrupting. Volleyball is a very important passion of mine, and training for it in my own gym would be a dream come true.

What is your biggest regret? Never playing any sports when I was younger. I have certainly had to work much harder in my older years to make up for this.

What’s your biggest red flag in people? Being disrespectful—if you’re disrespectful, I’m not trying to be friends with you.

What’s the best decision you’ve ever made? Probably eating a burger that one time when I could have eaten tacos. It was so good, so moist and juicy.

Who’s your favorite music artist? Probably Eminem, because I like his rhythm and lyrics. They are very inspirational and heartening.

What’s something that nobody else knows about you? I love eating food—I could eat food all day.

What’s your favorite quote? What you want to be is not what you are; what you do is who you are.