Bhavnish Tucker of Casco has been selected as the area Lions Clubs’ “Student of the Month” for May.

Each month, area Lions Clubs recognize a Lake Region High School senior based on academics and volunteerism in school and community services. The recipient is honored at a Lions’ dinner meeting and is presented a monetary award.

Parents: Brian and Maloti Tucker

Activities: Varsity Cross Country, Varsity Track and Field, National Honor Society (president), Class Officer (vice president), Student Council, Newspaper Club.

Hobbies: Creating art, painting, drawing, photography, running, fashion, video games, reading, listening to music. 

Future plans: Pursuing Psychology at the University of Chicago. Potential to additionally study Visual Arts and Philosophy.

Q. What do you believe are three keys to being a good student? Three core aspects that I believe are essential to nurturing growth and finding success as a student include being truly open-minded and having the willingness to be challenged, holding yourself accountable for your failures, mistakes, and successes, having a great deal of discipline to accompany these previous attributes, and lending yourself an intrinsic strength to accomplish your goals. 

Q. What is your favorite class and why? My Intro to Philosophy class, taken through UMaine Orono. It has stood as a class that has truly forced me and my perspectives to be challenged. It posed questions and scenarios that required me too often abandoned or reconstruct previous systems thought in favor of new approaches that allowed for more flexibility and diversity. It has also taught me to approach all future perspectives with a principle of charity and to remain thinking critically no matter the scenario. Rarely have I been eager to complete a discussion post like I was for this class. 

Q. Who is your favorite teacher and why? With an overwhelming sense of indecisiveness, I simply cannot choose between The Oren’s, the wonderful duo who always supported my academic endeavors, provided resources, and shared interests in niche topics. Ms. Pulito, the coach that somehow convinced me running isn’t pure torture, and the teacher that broadened my perspectives on the capabilities and power of writing, or The Carlson’s — who always encouraged my pursuit of art and pushed my capabilities mentally and technically as an artist. 

Q. If you could change on thing about your educational experience, what would it be and why? One thing I would change about my educational experience was the lack of opportunities for academia and fulfilling learning. Perhaps it is a selfish change, but throughout my time in high school, I found myself feeling in the position that many of the classes I was participating in were merely attempting to get me to pass and never truly enticed me to explore and enrich myself and my learning.

While it’s undeniably hard to alter a system such as this — for there exists a vast and intricate web of reasons and leading influences — I believe a learning environment, such as school, should truly serve to excite the mind and prove, no matter the opposition, that there is an inherent joy in learning in any manner — not to simply assign a grade and a credit. It’s something I hope will change in our community, and I know it will require effort from each student, parent, educator, administrator, and more —but I don’t doubt it will be entirely worth the efforts. 

Q. What accomplishment are you most proud of, and why? My greatest accomplishment thus far is perhaps simply who I’ve become. A lot occurs during high school and those four years. So much so that it almost seems impossible to predict tomorrow, no less what you’ll be like when it’s over. But with a sense of joy and pride, I’m rather happy with how I turned out. So much has occurred and so much will continue to do so, but after those four years, from seemingly instrumental struggles to the greatest of joys, I’ve persisted and grown to become an individual I feel fulfilled to be.