Stellar Student
Zorast Gustavsp
Age: 18
Hometown: Richmond, B.C.
Academic awards:
Principals’ honour roll
from Grades 8 through 12.
Currently studying:
Political Science and pre-law at UBC Okanagan.
Advice for students:
Get involved in extracurricular
activities. This will introduce you
to new people, show you your strengths and
weaknesses, and make high school a whole lot
more enjoyable.
Success strategies you swear by:
Something that I use quite frequently when it
comes to studying for a test or making a presentation
is visualization. A while back I had
found this to work in other facets of my life
and decided to try and apply it to school. For
example, before a big test I will sit down for
five minutes before I begin to study and imagine
myself finding the answers to all the questions
that are going to be on the test. I then
visualize my teacher handing the test back to
me a week later with the mark on the top that I
desire. After genuinely believing what my mind
has fabricated I will open up my text book and
begin studying. This strategy gets you into the
right mindset before you study, which is usually
half the battle.
How do you de-stress when school
gets intense?
Though this may sound quite
unorthodox, when I feel like the weight of the
world is on my shoulders I usually sit down
and watch CNN or another news channel. I do
this to get some perspective on what is going
on in the world, but more so to make myself
feel juvenile for overreacting to school troubles
when there are people all over the world fighting
through real adversity. It is usually at this
point when I realize my problems are quite
small in comparison to the big picture, and I
generally start feeling better about my situation.
What do you do in your spare time?
I
enjoy music, movies and hanging out with my
friends. I am also a bit of a geek and am interested
in anything that encases circuitry. My
room is the technological hub in my house,
and if there is ever a problem with electronic
equipment, I make it my job to try and fix it.
Golf has also been an important part of my life,
since it has consumed most of my summers
since I was the age of eight.
How do you de-stress when school gets intense?
It is important that all students establish outlets where they can relieve their stress. Running and playing the piano allowed me to get away from the pressures of school. Having a daily activity where you can de-stress allows you to refocus and approach your studies with a better attitude. Going out with friends also allows me to take it easy and unwind.
A quote that inspires you:
“Do not let the past define who you are, but let
it shape who you will become.”
— Anonymous
