Super Students
Saturday, May 23, 1998
Name: Amy Smith
Age: 17
School: Kahuku High & Intermediate
Activities: Service clubs; Teachers As A Career Club, president
Interests: Working with kids, singing
Good grades don't come easy for senior Amy Smith. She's had to do it the old-fashioned way. Hard work has paid off
"I'm not a naturally smart person," she said. "I've had to really work hard to get A's."
The only hurdle she's never quite mastered is sports, so she makes it a point to excel in academics. Her scores on nationally ranked tests aren't that high, but she makes up for it by being diligent, she said.
"It's been most gratifying that I have worked my hardest and it's paid off."
She's managed to maintain a 4.0 grade point average, despite a class schedule that includes advanced placement government, literature and calculus. She hopes to major in early childhood education at Brigham Young University.
She acquired good habits early from her parents. Her dad is a music teacher at BYU-Hawaii and her mom teaches history and advanced placement government at Kahuku. Their emphasis on education did not escape the six Smith children. All except one are going into teaching.
Her mother in particular was influential, says Smith, who was in her mom's eighth-grade history class. "She's really enthusiastic about everything."
Smith rarely turns in an assignment late, even if it means staying up the night before. "I can't imagine not turning in homework because it's part of my personality," she said. Still, grades aren't everything. "Even if I don't get A's -- as long as I work my hardest. If I don't try hard, I feel guilty."
Debra Barayuga, Star-Bulletin
