David Wilson, a recent graduate of Hume-Fogg High School, has chosen Amherst College in Massachusetts as the place for his undergraduate work. I asked him what his favorite subject was and he said, history was his favorite subject until he took economics, which he will major in when he matriculates to Amherst. David stated that he researched the top liberal arts colleges and decided that Amherst was his choice. He was able to visit Amherst in September and fell in love with it. David asked me if I was familiar with Quest Budget and I was not. He stated that it is an organization that links economically financially challenged students to top schools in the country and he was nominated as one of those.

David has lived in the same house near MeHarry Medical College all of his life. He has kept his focus on the importance of academics by participating in various activities which adds to his all around knowledge. While participating in SGA, he was parliamentarian his sophomore year, and Vice-President during his junior year. He is a member of the academic Nu Alpha Beta Chapter and the French Honors Club. David won the St. Louis Book Award for Community Involvement, and played violin in the Nashville Youth Repertory Orchestra, and the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt.

David is a member of 40th Avenue Church of Christ where he participates in the Youth Department. He works part time to save up for school, and this summer he plans to work full time. David’s father said that he was proud of his son, and is glad that he focused on academics instead of sports. I asked David if I could take his picture, but he said that he had his class picture. I looked at the picture and complimented him on his smile. His father said that he spent a lot of money on those teeth, but it was worth it.

When I asked David what he would say to other high school students about attending college he said, “You don’t have to do anything extra to get in, just stay focused on what you are interested in, excel in it, and everything will fall into place.”