By: Garrett Lonsberry
Cade Martin (having been at Holy Cross since 5th grade) is now a senior and is shouldering responsibilities left and right. Cade is the Student Body President and an exemplary cross-country runner. As the cross-country captain, he is one of the fastest runners in the state, leading the team to potential a state championship. As student body president he is using his position to help revive the Boys to Men program, as well as implement new programs and policies for this new school year. For instance, the student council is trying to improve the game day experience by organizing tail gating events before Holy Cross football games. Student council is also trying to revamp the daily experience at Holy Cross, adding a new “formation period”, a 40-minute period for students to study and catch up on work, in place of homeroom every Tuesday and Thursday. In addition to these extracurricular activities, Cade excels in his academic life having to manage six AP and Dual Enrollment classes in a 7-class schedule. Cade has also recently been named a National Merit Semifinalist due to his exceptional PSAT score. All of these responsibilities consume Cade’s both school and free time leading to a hectic, but ultimately worthwhile, lifestyle.
In addition to all of those accomplishments, Cade has the highest ACT score throughout the entire Holy Cross High School with a score of 35. For those interested in replicating his ACT score, we asked him a few questions in search of tips. We began the interview session by asking Cade “Did you prepare for the ACT at all? If so, how did you do it?” In response, Cade said, “Yes, I did a couple practice exams in the week leading up to the test.” We then proceeded to ask him if he had any tips for the rest of us, and he stated, “Do not freak out on the math, take a practice test before and see what you do not know and ask a teacher. Reading is a race against time, so skim it and make best guesses. Science, learn how graphs work- Dr. Schilling is a great teacher to ask. English is just English.” In this response, Cade made sure to clearly communicate the importance of teachers, giving a shout out to Dr. Schilling and suggesting approaching one of the many math teachers on campus. We then asked him “What do you consider the easiest ACT subjects and why?” He responded, “Reading and math are the easiest. Reading because it is just simple, and math because the rules are cut and dry.” Cade also described the importance of making the easier subjects count. As all four subjects carry the same weight, it is important to rack up points on your strong subjects in order to give you some breathing room in the more difficult ones. By taking these tips into account, you could potentially improve your ACT score, allowing for a better chance in college admission and higher scholarship opportunities. With these accomplishments and new responsibilities, Cade is making the most of his senior year.