Q&A with CAC’s National Merit Finalists

Three CAC seniors have been named National Merit Finalists. Riley Bryant, Yasmine Hekmatpour and Sarah Reaves rank amongst the top 1% of the 1.5 millions students who entered the program. They are now under consideration to be named National Merit Scholars later this spring. On average, only one out of every 50,000 testing students will qualify for this prestigious honor.

We sat down with Riley, Yasmine and Sarah to learn a little more about them, their future plans and how they balance school work and life.

Last fall, each of you found out that you scored high enough on your PSAT to be named a Semifinalist. Tell us a little bit about how it felt when you found out. 

Riley Bryant (RB): When I found out that I was a semifinalist, I was super ecstatic. We kind of had an idea of it because our score reports, but it being official made all the difference. Yasmine, Sarah, and I were all so excited for each other on our great accomplishment.

Yasmine Hekmatpour (YH): I didn’t really know what a National Merit Finalist was even when I took the PSAT a second time. I was both excited and confused when I learned that I had qualified.

Sarah Reaves (SR): I was ecstatic when I found out that I had been named a Semifinalist. The honor was totally unexpected, but I knew that all of my hard work had paid off in a big way. I could not wait to share the news with my parents, teachers, coaches and friends.

Did you always have the goal of being a National Merit Finalist? If so, what did you do to prepare?

RB: It was a large goal of mine to be a National Merit Finalist. I started studying in August, and the test was in mid-October. This preparation included lots of practice tests because that’s really the only way to study for standardized tests like that. All of the preparation thankfully paid off though.

YH: I studied for it in two ways: I went over math and grammar concepts that I struggled with, but more importantly, I worked on my test-taking skills. There are practice books that you can get that teach you how to quickly eliminate options and figure out the correct answer. I think it is really important for any long standardized test, whether the PSAT, SAT, ACT, or an AP test, to get plenty of sleep beforehand and to not stress.

SR: I have not always had this goal. I knew that the National Merit program existed and that it was important to do well on the PSAT in the hopes of achieving this accolade, but it was not something I deliberately pursued. I did not discover how much weight this title carries or the full extent of its benefits until this school year.

What does it mean to you to earn such a prestigious honor?

RB: It was a large goal of mine to be a National Merit Finalist. I started studying in August, and the test was in mid-October. This preparation included lots of practice tests because that’s really the only way to study for standardized tests like that. All of the preparation thankfully paid off though.

SR: I have not always had this goal. I knew that the National Merit program existed, and that it was important to do well on the PSAT in the hopes of achieving this accolade, but it was not something I deliberately pursued. I did not discover how much weight this title carries or the full extent of its benefits until this school year.

Do you have any pro tips for other students preparing to take the PSAT/ACT and/or those who would like to become a National Merit Finalist?

RB: Like I said, regarding studying for the PSAT, take lots of practice tests. Also, know your strengths and weaknesses. If you’re bad at math, practice the parts of math you struggle with. If you’re bad at reading, work on reading quicker under timed pressure. At the end of the day, the more you practice, the better test-taker you’ll be; it’ll be second nature.

SR: Working hard in all that you do is an excellent way to set yourself up for success. Creating the habit of giving your full effort, even to tasks that may seem insignificant, prepares you to excel when it really counts. I believe my biggest asset when taking standardized tests is all the time I have spent reading in my life. Reading is SO important — it has broadened my vocabulary, cemented grammar rules as second-nature, and taught me how to comprehend and apply information. It is also essential to be able to interpret graphs, so I would devote lots of practice to that!

What are your plans after graduation? Does this honor change or alter your plans at all?

RB: I plan to attend Washington & Lee University next year, which is in Lexington, Virginia. I will major in Finance and play basketball there. Becoming a National Merit Finalist didn’t really play a role in my college decision; when I arrived on campus in Lexington, I absolutely loved it, and I knew I needed to go there.

YH: I don’t really know yet what I am doing after graduation. I am still waiting on application decisions from my favorite colleges.

SR: I have yet to receive final scholarship offers from a few schools, so I will not be able to make a college decision until late March or early April. So far, I have narrowed the search down to Baylor University, the University of Arkansas, and Abilene Christian University. Being a National Merit Finalist played a major role in the amount of money I have received so far and the majors/programs I have been accepted to at these schools. I do know that I plan to major in applied mathematics and go on to attend law school. I hope to one day work for the FBI, though I do not know in what capacity. I think this profession would be an exciting way to combine the more analytical, math-oriented aspect of my mind with my love for speaking and writing, while also applying those skills towards working for the greater good. 

Each of you are involved in numerous activities both at CAC and off campus. Do you ever find it difficult to balance your studies with extracurriculars?

RB: Sometimes it can be very difficult balancing school with things like sports and Student Council; however, I would say that it’s all really worth it. Academics are my first priority, though, so I have to make sure that I always carve out time for homework and studying no matter what. Basketball is also another big priority of mine, so I have to work at that a lot as well, even in the off-season. Although planning Student Council events and projects can take a lot of time, it really is super enjoyable to work with such a fun, hardworking group. I see basketball and Student Council as less of a task because I genuinely enjoy these activities. Making time for friends and family can be difficult with all of this, too, but I make sure that I do that as well because they’re some of the most important people in my life.

YH: I participate in soccer, track and cross country at school, but I also do travel soccer during the fall and winter. When at the height of a season, I have to change the way I study. Usually, I like to spread out my homework, but if I have a game or meet, I try to get it all done before. Last year, the week of our APUSH exam, I was exhausted from having three soccer games the week before and another that day. I was barely able to study, so I did not do as well as I hoped.

SR: I am a dedicated student, athlete, musician and church member. I am a competitive gymnast; I spend 10 hours per week at practice and often travel on the weekends for competitions. I am also a pianist; I have weekly lessons, participate in competitions, and must make time to practice. Throughout my high school career, I have maintained a significant level of volunteer involvement in my church, as well. I also decided to join the CAC quiz bowl team this year, which was a super fun experience! Juggling all of these responsibilities and devoting myself to excellence in every area can be exhausting. Adding scholarship applications and AP/college courses to the mix means that I have a very limited social life right now. I prioritize getting plenty of sleep, using a spreadsheet to stay organized, wasting as little time as possible scrolling through social media, utilizing any chance to finish a task, and focusing on the end goal instead of instant gratification. I just try to remember that all of this hard work will pay off, and some of it already has!

How did being a student at CAC help prepare you for being finalist?

RB: CAC is such a supportive community; I’ve always felt encouraged by all of my teachers and administrators. They’ve never let me believe that I can’t achieve something that I put my mind to. Mrs. Arnold is such a great English teacher, and her AP Language class really helped with my standardized test scores because one of my weaknesses was not reading quickly enough. Mrs. Holland is an awesome Math teacher as well. She always makes sure her class understands what she’s teaching, and I enjoy math class every day because of her. 

YH: Mrs. Custer is really good at reminding me of deadlines and helping me turn in the correct forms. Without her, I probably would have missed a due date or submitted something incorrectly.

SR: I switched to CAC at the start of my junior year, so I have not been here for long. However, the impact this place has had on me in such a short amount of time is overwhelmingly positive. When we were called to the office to find out we had been selected as semifinalists, Dr. Stewart and the rest of the administration were genuinely happy for us and proud of what we had achieved–not just as numbers that make the school look good, but as students they know and care about. Mrs. Custer was so incredibly helpful throughout every step of applying to be a finalist. Lastly, I am continually challenged to think at the next level in my classes at CAC.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank for their involvement along the way?

RB: First, I want to thank my parents: they make so many sacrifices for me to be the student I am. They always let me know how proud they are of me, and I am so extremely grateful for their encouragement and belief in me. I also want to thank all of my teachers for always being so supportive. The entire CAC staff has always been so congratulatory no matter the achievement. I’m so grateful for each and every teacher I’ve ever had, and I truly believe I wouldn’t be where I am today without each of them. Lastly, I want to thank Mrs. Custer for being so awesome throughout this process. She absolutely set Yasmine, Sarah, and I up for success in this entire process, and it would not have been possible without her. 

YH: I’d also like to thank my mom for always helping me figure out difficult concepts and encouraging me.

SR: I would like to thank my parents for their constant love and support, Mrs. Custer for going above and beyond in the role she has played in my senior year, Dr. Stewart for his investment in my college search, and my teachers and coaches for their genuine support in all of my endeavors.