Many high school graduates are now reflecting upon their last year–and its unique finale. They think about the friends, teachers and mentors who have guided their lives. For 2020 Tech High School graduate, Richard Zimring, it’s no different.
When Zimring looks back, he remembers his time as a National Honor Society student and Link Crew member, captain of the boys tennis team and the first chair cellist in the symphony orchestra. He also treasures his most memorable experiences – his math team earning the state championship and how he completed three years of Spanish in his freshman year and earned a five on his AP (Advanced Placement) Spanish test.
“I just did kind of what I thought I should be doing [in high school],” says Zimring. “I … get competitive [about tennis], but I just love going out with my friends.”
He has been involved in the community as well. He volunteered for Hands Across the World, a local non-profit organization, caring for younger children while their parents were in educational classes. He served as a Junior Rotarian with the St. Cloud Rotary Club and also tutored math students at Mathnasium.
“I was the only high school tutor there,” shares Zimring. “I was often tutoring math students who were older than me.”
All these experiences led up to his senior year, when things changed. The coronavirus pandemic created a pivotal moment partway through his senior year as schools closed and then shifted to distance learning.
The end of his senior year was turned upside down. He wasn’t able to be captain of the tennis team. There wasn’t a year-end orchestra concert or last day of high school. He wasn’t able to see his favorite teachers every day in person. Instead, Zimring found a way to reinvent himself and prepare for his post-secondary education.
With no sports, clubs or volunteering, Zimring had spare time on his hands, which meant more hours in the day to finish his school work. He had a mind shift in how he wanted to live his life that even amazed himself.
“There were a lot of positives [to distance learning],” says Zimring. “I spent more time outside. I did my homework on my deck. I had more time in my day and I was able to do what I enjoy and be happier.”
Being happier also meant change in his sleep and eating habits. He even began cooking his own meals.
“I finally prioritized my sleep like I wanted to,” shares Zimring. “I used to stay up until three or four in the morning because I procrastinated. It’s just not worth it. It was silliness that I’d sacrifice my health. I’ve been cooking my own meals and that makes me happy. You cook a good meal and you feel good afterwards. It’s just super important and I didn’t really … think about it.”
Distance learning allowed him to hone in on what kind of lifestyle he could have to be healthy and prepare for college.
In the fall, Zimring will attend Northwestern University, and he looks forward to creating deeper relationships with people. He is also excited about the career opportunities with its proximity to Chicago.
“It’s like the perfect place to get a job,” says Zimring. “It’s also known as the derivatives Capital of the world. I’m setting my course to be an algorithmic trader or analyst.”
Computer science and finance are the two areas Zimring wants to pursue. He dabbles in both in his free time. He’s taught himself how to code and he’s learned a lot of good finance tips from his older brother who works in finance.
“I’ve done a lot of investing on my own since I turned 18,” says Zimring. “My brother has his master’s in finance … and my other brother majored in computer science and is a software developer, so I’ve had some insight into what the fields are like.”
Zimring feels that computers are powerful. He’s just digging into the neuroscience of computers which he believes has a plethora of applications he could take into any career field. He was unsure of a finance major until he himself began to trade.
“The money is just so tangible and it’s amazing how much the markets control everything,” explains Zimring. “It’s just huge how it impacts people’s lives. [It] holds real value to people. The math side of the markets is really cool to me, too. There are a lot of stats involved. [Finance] and computer science commonly intersect. There is just so much data in the market and computer science thrives on data.”
When Zimring moves to campus, he’ll lean on his newly acquired skills to set himself up for a great future. Ten years from now, he plans to be a trader or analyst, but will look at a master’s degree to learn more of a specialized area within the finance and computer science world.
Looking back on his senior year, he has some advice for next year’s seniors. “Get your college apps done early. Do your research on colleges. On a broader level, care more about your health. That really helped me this year. Keep everything in perspective. Stay active. Cook your meals and sleep more.”
Take it from a talented senior who took the opportunity to reflect on his past, look toward his future and set a course of action.
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