National Merit semifinalist: Timothy Mallon | Palo Verde High School

TIMOTHY MALLON

PALO VERDE HIGH SCHOOL

■ What college do you plan on attending and for what major?

I plan on attending Brigham Young University for pre-medicine. I then want to go to medical school to be a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine. This profession is perfect for me because it will allow me to produce long-term improvements in people's lives by educating them about healthy lifestyles, such as the adoption of a vegetarian or whole food diet. I believe that diet has a big impact on the way a person feels both physically and mentally and want to help people feel better about themselves and others.

■ What extracurricular activities do you participate in, such as clubs and volunteering?

I play trumpet in my school's marching band and symphonic band. I also am a member of my school's Crafts for Kids club, where we make and sell handmade crafts and donate the proceeds to charity.

■ What do you do for fun?

In my free time I like to read literature. Some of my favorite authors are Leo Tolstoy, William Shakespeare, Fyodor Dostoevsky, and Nathaniel Hawthorne.

■ In detail, how did you prepare for the PSAT?

I ate a good breakfast the morning of the test.

■ Why are grades so important to you?

Grades really are not so important to me. I enjoy learning and school comes easy for me. The main reason I like getting straight A's is because it looks really nice on a report card.

■ What's your favorite movie and book?

My favorite movie is "The Sound of Music," and my favorite book is "The Brothers Karamazov" by Fyodor Dostoevsky.

■ What's a guilty pleasure of yours - such as a TV show, movie or hobby - and why are you ashamed of liking it?

I really enjoyed reading the Twilight series. I'm ashamed of liking it because the last book was so terrible, and I realized that Bella was really whiny and immature and that Edward was waaaaay too good for her.