The Paw Print

By: Brockman Bentley

Each year at Payton, there are a few students who not only stand out academically but also rise above their station athletically as well. I met with one of these students, Derek Patton, to hear his story.

Patton is a junior at Payton who plays varsity golf and varsity baseball. He is also a part of the math team at Payton and on top of all of that, is a co-founder of the sports analytics club. My interview with Patton can be found below. 

Paw Print: How do you balance friends, school, and all of these activities?

Patton: I just try to stay on top of my priorities so that I still have free time to do other things I want to do, like hang out with friends.

Paw Print: What academic achievement are you most proud of and why?

Patton: The academic achievement that I am most proud of is winning the state math competition this year. Beating some of the bigger schools seemed unrealistic for us in previous years but we worked really hard all year and it obviously paid off in the end. Winning at state meant a lot to the coaches and everyone on the team so it was really cool to be a part of.

Paw Print: Which activity is the most challenging for you?

Patton: Writing is something that is always challenging for me. English has never been my strongest subject in school and writing especially doesn’t come to me naturally. I often struggle to come up with good ideas and can’t just write a full paper in one sitting. So, I have to spend a lot of time when writing to make sure it’s good enough by working through multiple drafts.

Paw Print: What advice would you give to people trying to follow a similar path?

Patton: I would say that managing your priorities is the most important thing because even though I do have a busy schedule, I feel like I have plenty of time to hang out with friends and even just relax and do nothing. Don’t put off things that you have to do; get your things done so you can enjoy your time without having to worry about anything.

Paw Print: What is your plan after high school?

Patton: I want to study something STEM-related in college but other than that I’m not really sure.