For this installment of Student in the Spotlight, I sat down with senior Gordon Pace. Although Pace may be known around campus as an excellent runner, he also has some hidden passions that most of his fellow students are not aware of.
Pace will graduate in May and will be attending Carnegie Mellon.
Describe yourself in a sentence.
Normal runner likes . . . Hold on a second; I can do a better sentence. Tall kid who likes to run.
What makes you like every other student at Trinity Prep?
I’m a focused on academics and I’m going to go to college like everyone else at Trinity. I am going to Carnegie Mellon. I am going to continue running.
What sets you apart from that group?
I’m really dedicated to a particular few things, like running, science, and math which is why I’m going to study engineering and run in college. I don’t like to do a bunch of different things; I just like to do a couple things really well.
When did you realize your passions?
10th grade. I actually swam my freshman year. I hated it and quit, then some guys on the cross-country team convinced me to come out. I love running. As for math, all throughout Trinity I have been better at math, and all the other classes just annoyed me.
If you could only accomplish one thing in your life, what would it be?
I am going into Biomedical engineering to cure some type of disease.
Describe your proudest moment.
My proudest moment would be getting into college or last year at the track state meet when our 4 by 8 medaled from the second heat, which is the slow heat. Medaling and getting into college would be the top two.
Describe your saddest moment.
One of the moments that comes to mind is this past cross country season. We came in 3rd place. That was definitely one that still makes me pretty bummed. That’s probably it.
Do you believe that humans have natural tendencies towards good or evil?
I think that so much of it is genetics. There are just a lot of different genes that can prompt you to do different things. I think a lot of it has to do with the environment that you are raised in.
Are you happy that you came to Trinity Prep?
I’m definitely happy I came to Trinity because Winter Park is the school I’m zoned for. If I went there, I would do well; they have a good IB program and if you want to do well you could. I think Trinity Prep at first forces you to do well when you’re young. Then as I got older I realized, “Hey, it will help me in life.” I’m definitely glad that I went to a small place like Trinity Prep that gives you more personal attention. I think that is the biggest thing I took away from that. They are helping you a lot when you are younger before you really are wise enough to makes the right choices.
