Published: Monday, November 23, 2009
Super Kid: Mark Fernandez, Lakewood High School
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Dan Bates / The Herald
Lakewood High School senior Mark Fernandez, 17, is involved in a variety of activities, including a role in the school’s production of “The Mousetrap.”
Voice of Lakewood: Mark Fernandez portrayed the mysterious police detective, Sgt. Trotter, in the high school’s recent production of the Agatha Christie murder mystery play “The Mousetrap.” He also uses his smooth radio-style voice to broadcast the daily announcements and occasionally serves as master of ceremonies at school assemblies.
Lakewood lifer: Mark grew up in the Lakewood area south of Stanwood and west of Arlington. There are about 200 seniors in the class of 2010 and most are headed to college, he said.
Classes: Mark’s school day is filled with college-prep English, calculus, chemistry, Advanced Placement history and wood technology. Equal parts Irish and Filipino, Mark also is the only student working on a fourth year of Spanish. “I sleep when I can.”
On top of that: Mark is about to start a volunteering stint at Providence Hospital in Everett. For his senior project, he spent five days shadowing Dr. Paul Schwaegler, an orthopedic surgeon at Swedish Hospital in Seattle.
Next year: Mark currently is finishing his application to the University of Washington, where he hopes to take a lot more chemistry and biology as part of a premedicine program. Someday he hopes to be an orthopedic surgeon.
The inspiration: Mark was diagnosed with scoliosis, a curvature of the spine, when he was about 12 years old. Until age 16 he wore a cumbersome brace. Then in June he had an operation that fused part of his spine together. Dr. Schwaegler ended up assisting in the surgery. “I want to help kids who have scoliosis. I have the empathy that it takes.”
Snowboard season, track season: “My doctor just cleared me to go snowboarding this winter. It’s very exciting. And it will be easier to throw the discus during track season this year.”
His wheels: His folks, Jeff and Erin Fernandez, let him use the family’s Jeep Cherokee.
A recent favorite book: George Orwell’s “Animal Farm,” because the messages of how ignorance and greed hurt people still apply.
A favorite movie: “Who’s Harry Crumb,” with John Candy, a hands-down, all-time funny favorite. “I love Candy and I love comedy.”
What the principal says: Dale Leach calls Mark a great student and an engaging and positive young man.
Mark talks back: “I’m just a normal kid. I have a positive outlook because with everything I’ve had to deal with in life so far, I’ve learned that no matter how difficult a situation might seem, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.”
Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427; gfiege@heraldnet.com.
Know a super kid? E-mail schoolfyi@heraldnet.com.
Lakewood lifer: Mark grew up in the Lakewood area south of Stanwood and west of Arlington. There are about 200 seniors in the class of 2010 and most are headed to college, he said.
Classes: Mark’s school day is filled with college-prep English, calculus, chemistry, Advanced Placement history and wood technology. Equal parts Irish and Filipino, Mark also is the only student working on a fourth year of Spanish. “I sleep when I can.”
On top of that: Mark is about to start a volunteering stint at Providence Hospital in Everett. For his senior project, he spent five days shadowing Dr. Paul Schwaegler, an orthopedic surgeon at Swedish Hospital in Seattle.
Next year: Mark currently is finishing his application to the University of Washington, where he hopes to take a lot more chemistry and biology as part of a premedicine program. Someday he hopes to be an orthopedic surgeon.
The inspiration: Mark was diagnosed with scoliosis, a curvature of the spine, when he was about 12 years old. Until age 16 he wore a cumbersome brace. Then in June he had an operation that fused part of his spine together. Dr. Schwaegler ended up assisting in the surgery. “I want to help kids who have scoliosis. I have the empathy that it takes.”
Snowboard season, track season: “My doctor just cleared me to go snowboarding this winter. It’s very exciting. And it will be easier to throw the discus during track season this year.”
His wheels: His folks, Jeff and Erin Fernandez, let him use the family’s Jeep Cherokee.
A recent favorite book: George Orwell’s “Animal Farm,” because the messages of how ignorance and greed hurt people still apply.
A favorite movie: “Who’s Harry Crumb,” with John Candy, a hands-down, all-time funny favorite. “I love Candy and I love comedy.”
What the principal says: Dale Leach calls Mark a great student and an engaging and positive young man.
Mark talks back: “I’m just a normal kid. I have a positive outlook because with everything I’ve had to deal with in life so far, I’ve learned that no matter how difficult a situation might seem, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.”
Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427; gfiege@heraldnet.com.
Know a super kid? E-mail schoolfyi@heraldnet.com.
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