PAYTON WOOSTER
Came to Cascia Hall? - In 2013, I came to Cascia as an incoming sixth-grader from Marquette.
Favorite Teacher? - I have never had ONE favorite teacher at Cascia. I have a few that mean a lot to me, and I will explain why. Mrs. Brown is someone who has helped me beyond when I had her as a teacher sophomore year. She is someone I can always go to for help. Coach Hightower is a teacher that I can go to when I need to talk, and one who has inspired me throughout my years as a high schooler. Mrs. Fenska gave me the start I needed to find my passion for biology and, ultimately, medicine, which is something I want to pursue in my future. Mrs. Benne has been one of my rocks throughout a rather stressful senior year. From coffee and animal crackers to listening to complaints, Mrs. Benne has provided so much for me to thrive in my senior year. Mrs. Booth made a rather difficult class, AP Euro, something enjoyable with her witty comments and giving us horrible histories to watch when we couldn't listen to more lectures. Last, but certainly not least, is Father Philip. From Latin I in Middle School when he scared someone so badly they cried, to Christology junior year when he made us shoot free throws for a bonus point on a project, Fr. Philip has been one of the most entertaining and thoughtful teachers that I could have ever had during my time at Cascia. All of these teachers are people I truly admire and people I aspire to be. I hope one day that I can be as kind, smart, and thoughtful as these teachers.
Funniest Memory? - It was an eerie morning before the AB Calculus exam. I was tired from the previous night of studying and rather panicked about the exam that was in the next 20 minutes. I was at a table surrounded by my classmates when I told them my idea to have someone from our class get accepted into a college at, what I called, the "four corners of the country" which would be, Maine, Hawaii, Alaska, and Florida (preferably in Miami or some technical school in the keys). I wanted to have someone in these states because of the board of acceptance in the foyer of the high school. I wanted to have just one person in the furthest corner from Oklahoma. Sophie told me she was applying to a school in Maine, so I asked the rest of the table which state I should apply to. The favorite of the remaining three happened to be Alaska. I had 10 minutes before my calculus exam. I was in a rush. I quickly opened my Chromebook and went to the Common App. I was hoping to apply to any university in Alaska, so when I saw that my only option through the Common App was Alaska Pacific University, I knew it was my destiny. I made sure I filled in every question, including what I intended to major in at APU, which would ultimately be Alaskan Native Governance. I submitted my application and lost $50 from my bank account as a result. But, it didn't end there. I emailed Mrs. Coleman and asked her if she could send my transcripts to APU, to which she responded with a swift "WHY?!?!" and I explained the rest to her. But, it still doesn't end there. I applied in December and would receive random emails from the admissions office about the different classes they offered, one being dog sledding. I was patiently and anxiously awaiting their email to deny or accept me, and it never came...UNTIL April 10th, when I was notified of my acceptance. In the midst of the pandemic, I was given the greatest gift of all, my acceptance to Alaska Pacific University, a school I applied to so that I, Payton Wooster, could put my name on the board of college acceptances in the foyer on Anchorage, Alaska. Some ask: was it worth the joke? To which I respond with an enthusiastic "Heck yeah!” Just to clear the air, I will not be attending Alaska Pacific University, but I am rather ecstatic that they see me as APU Moose material.
Plans for Fall? - In the fall, I will be attending the University of Arkansas to study biophysics.
#chseniorspotlight
Back
Favorite Teacher? - I have never had ONE favorite teacher at Cascia. I have a few that mean a lot to me, and I will explain why. Mrs. Brown is someone who has helped me beyond when I had her as a teacher sophomore year. She is someone I can always go to for help. Coach Hightower is a teacher that I can go to when I need to talk, and one who has inspired me throughout my years as a high schooler. Mrs. Fenska gave me the start I needed to find my passion for biology and, ultimately, medicine, which is something I want to pursue in my future. Mrs. Benne has been one of my rocks throughout a rather stressful senior year. From coffee and animal crackers to listening to complaints, Mrs. Benne has provided so much for me to thrive in my senior year. Mrs. Booth made a rather difficult class, AP Euro, something enjoyable with her witty comments and giving us horrible histories to watch when we couldn't listen to more lectures. Last, but certainly not least, is Father Philip. From Latin I in Middle School when he scared someone so badly they cried, to Christology junior year when he made us shoot free throws for a bonus point on a project, Fr. Philip has been one of the most entertaining and thoughtful teachers that I could have ever had during my time at Cascia. All of these teachers are people I truly admire and people I aspire to be. I hope one day that I can be as kind, smart, and thoughtful as these teachers.
Funniest Memory? - It was an eerie morning before the AB Calculus exam. I was tired from the previous night of studying and rather panicked about the exam that was in the next 20 minutes. I was at a table surrounded by my classmates when I told them my idea to have someone from our class get accepted into a college at, what I called, the "four corners of the country" which would be, Maine, Hawaii, Alaska, and Florida (preferably in Miami or some technical school in the keys). I wanted to have someone in these states because of the board of acceptance in the foyer of the high school. I wanted to have just one person in the furthest corner from Oklahoma. Sophie told me she was applying to a school in Maine, so I asked the rest of the table which state I should apply to. The favorite of the remaining three happened to be Alaska. I had 10 minutes before my calculus exam. I was in a rush. I quickly opened my Chromebook and went to the Common App. I was hoping to apply to any university in Alaska, so when I saw that my only option through the Common App was Alaska Pacific University, I knew it was my destiny. I made sure I filled in every question, including what I intended to major in at APU, which would ultimately be Alaskan Native Governance. I submitted my application and lost $50 from my bank account as a result. But, it didn't end there. I emailed Mrs. Coleman and asked her if she could send my transcripts to APU, to which she responded with a swift "WHY?!?!" and I explained the rest to her. But, it still doesn't end there. I applied in December and would receive random emails from the admissions office about the different classes they offered, one being dog sledding. I was patiently and anxiously awaiting their email to deny or accept me, and it never came...UNTIL April 10th, when I was notified of my acceptance. In the midst of the pandemic, I was given the greatest gift of all, my acceptance to Alaska Pacific University, a school I applied to so that I, Payton Wooster, could put my name on the board of college acceptances in the foyer on Anchorage, Alaska. Some ask: was it worth the joke? To which I respond with an enthusiastic "Heck yeah!” Just to clear the air, I will not be attending Alaska Pacific University, but I am rather ecstatic that they see me as APU Moose material.
Plans for Fall? - In the fall, I will be attending the University of Arkansas to study biophysics.
#chseniorspotlight
