Freshman Spotlight: Kaya Kerins by Autumn Long
After coming back from a trip, ninth grader Kaya Kerins knew she had some catching up to do before her upcoming biology quiz. Even though she had missed a few lessons, she didn’t waste any time. “After returning from a trip, I prepared for the test by catching up on notes,” Kerins said. She spent time reviewing everything her classmates had gone over while she was away, making sure her notes were up to date and organized. When she found out the quiz would be open notes, it gave her a boost of confidence. “I was excited for an easy quiz,” Kerins said, hoping her quick review would be enough to help her succeed.
Though even with her notes in hand, there were a few questions that made her pause. “The hardest part of the test were the questions about Darwin's inspirations,” Kerins said. These questions required more than just reading from her notes—they needed deeper thinking and understanding. Still, she stayed calm and focused. “I think I did solid; it wasn't difficult, and I finished in a timely manner,” she said. Her preparation and positive attitude helped her stay on track, even when the test wasn’t as easy as she first expected.
All of Kaya’s hard work paid off when the results came in. She was thrilled to see a high score next to her name. “I was super proud of my results; a 96,” Kerins said. Getting that grade after a busy week and some fast studying felt like a big win. This one story shows that with a little determination and good study habits, it's possible to bounce back quickly and succeed—even after missing class. Her experience is a great reminder to other students that staying focused and putting in effort really can make a difference.
Photo caption: Kaya Kerins, a 9th grader, studies at home the night before her biology test. “Leading up to the test, I wasn’t nervous because I knew I would do really well,” Kerins said