POLO — Benjamin Ryan was recently named the May Student of the Month at Polo Community High School and received a scholarship from the Polo Schools Foundation for his efforts. He is the son of Micheal Ryan and Jill Wininger Ryan.
Ryan’s extracurricular activities include band, Drama Club, and FFA. After high school, he plans to study botany/environmental science/music at Northern Illinois University.
Upon winning the award, Ryan filled out a list of questions about his school experience.
What does it take to be a successful high school student?
Do the work that matters, tolerate the work that doesn’t.
What class do you find really engaging and why?
Though it can get pretty strenuous at times, I’ve always enjoyed my biology classes, especially the one I’m taking now. Gina Cole and Zach Horst have always nurtured my ever-growing mind, even when my grades began to slip. I’m especially grateful for the unique algae unit we were able to do this year, where our class was shipped a bunch of algae and we got to examine it and learn a whole bunch about the stuff. We also have a pond water tank that I’ve been working with throughout the year, and I’ve seen some peculiar aquatic fellows under the microscope. I will forever cherish the time I’ve spent with my teachers and classmates, in this class as well as the rest.
What are your career and post-graduation plans?
My only major and definite plan is to attend Northern Illinois University and essentially study plants and music. After that, I’ll see what opportunities are available and go with what seems best.
What are your two favorite extracurricular, volunteer or community activities you participate in?
Band has been the greatest extracurricular activity I’ve ever participated in thus far, though it’s technically a class. But it’s not the class itself, it’s who teaches it that can make it great. Mr. Derek McAnally has been a guiding figure in my life since he first came to this school, and through him and his classes I have learned responsibility, leadership, and musicianship on a level that, quite frankly, no other high school conductor could ever have achieved. He introduced me to NIU’s percussion camp, where I learned how to play steel drums, samba, gamelan, the amadinda, an udu drum, and how to do a thumb roll on the tambourine. He introduced me to my favorite band, Sleepytime Gorilla Museum. And most importantly, he introduced me to jalapeño pizza, which is by far the best kind of pizza there is.
What is your hope for the future?
I hope to live a fulfilling life, with someone I care for, surrounded by those that care for me. I hope to someday have a decent amount of land, to plant a garden and to plant some trees. I hope to one day keep a pigeon that I can feed nuts and crackers and he’ll make funny noises. I hope that the world doesn’t end by the time I’m 30.
In all seriousness, I do hope to keep in touch with the friends I lose in the coming year. Everyone in my class is like family to me. A lot of these people I’ve been with since preschool, so moving on from high school is easily comparable to moving away from home. Though the future is bright, sometimes the end can be more bitter than sweet. But if life goes on, then so must I.
