MOUNTLAKE TERRACE — Nicholas Muir, 18, of Lynnwood, is a senior at Cedar Park Christian Schools’ Mountlake Terrace campus.
Question: You’ve got a 4.0?
Answer: It’s been very hard work. We’ve got seven classes a day here. I’ve been doing honors English and that is probably my most difficult class, but I’ve also taken lots of other intensive classes like chemistry, and I’m currently taking A&P (Anatomy and Physiology).
Q: And you want to be a veterinarian?
A: The anatomy course and the biology course are prepping me for the courses I will be taking in pre-vet.
Q: How did you decide you wanted to be a vet?
A: It started in sixth grade. My mom is a horse trainer and I ride horses and we were talking … I got really interested in it at that point and I’ve been wanting to do this ever since. … I want to be able to help people and help their animals.
Q: Do you want to be a small animal vet or large animal?
A: Because of my experience with horses, I’m looking primarily at large animal.
Q: You’ve been involved with sports, too?
A: Here I’ve been involved in soccer and track. I’m also part of our robotics team, which has been very successful. Last year we made it to the world championships and we were in the top 16 teams worldwide. … I ride my horse at a state and national level.
Q: What is reining?
A: It’s derived from cow-horse work, but you don’t have a cow … The challenge is you’re working with another animal that has a mind of its own. You have to go through years of training.
Q: Training for you or training for the horse?
A: Both.
Q: What is it about science that you like?
A: The thing that fascinated me most is in the human body and the animal body how everything works together in perfect sync to keep the body functioning as it should.
Q: Do you have a job?
A: I had a job over the summer. I was working for a home renovation company based in Bothell … I was the construction grunt. I was doing lots of demolition and hauling lots of materials. It was a fun job … It taught me how to work in the real world and exposed me to all the conditions of a real job.
Q: Have you decided on a college?
A: I want to go to Washington State University. I’ve done a college visit there in November. I’ve been wanting to go there for a long time.
Q: Do you have any hobbies?
A: Robotics, riding my horse. I like building things. I’m always looking for a new project. I was really into bikes for awhile … I’ve been trying to start my own business … (It’s based on) a tool used for helping in the training of horses. It simulates the movement of a cow going down a fence. It is a wireless set-up and it’s motorized.
Q: Any other big goals for life?
A: After vet school, I’m hoping to start my own veterinary practice. I’m hoping to come back to the Monroe-Snohomish area, but plans can change.
Q: What are you looking forward to now?
A: I’m really excited to go to college. It’s going to be a lot different than high school.
Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com.
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