Ryan Kingman, 18
Where are you from, originally? Morgan Hill
What are your plans after high school? I plan on having a memorable summer with friends before we all go in different directions. I’ll be attending Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in the fall to study biological engineering.
Favorite high school memory: I transferred to Live Oak from Bellarmine at the beginning of my junior year, and the people I met on that first day at the new school have become my best friends over the past two years. So that first day, as intimidating and crazy as it was, is one of my favorite memories, because without it, none of the rest would have occurred.
What was your biggest challenge in high school? My biggest challenge in high school wasn’t any single obstacle like some, but rather the challenge of balancing everything. With a limited number of hours in the day and virtually limitless demands upon our time, students learn quickly how to juggle AP classes with sports teams with friends.
Extracurriculars: My life outside of school was just as hectic as it was in. Some days I drove from varsity soccer practice to club soccer practice, getting home in time to clean up for work at the movie theater.
What inspires you? Some people are inspired by family, or a single life-changing memory, and while some of those might contribute, I feel most inspired by competition. I like feeling as if I’m actually accomplishing something, and I like feeling as if I actually earn my success.
What’s your dream career? As a diabetic and the son of a cancer survivor, modern technology and medicine have so drastically altered the course of my life that I feel I owe something to the medical field. I’m pursuing a major of biological engineering, but after that, where exactly my interests will take me will take some time to figure out.
Favorite subject of study: I’ve always been attracted to science, particularly biology. As an athlete, its interesting to understand nutrition, or lactic acid, or how the body works. An interest in a combination of athletics and biology opens new alternative careers, such as kinisiology or physical therapy.
