This week we Take Five with sophomore gymnast Maya Caban. Maya gives a lot to her gymnastics team, but has plenty left over to give to her Relay for Life team, the Courageous Ladybugs. Be sure to go to our Web site, westmilfordmessenger.com to read our bonus five with Maya.
1) How did you get involved with gymnastics?
When I was in elementary school my friends and I did all-star competition together and with that we went to gymnastics classes in town hosted by Coach Rembrant and Coach Williams. I took a break from cheer in 8th grade but once I got into high school I stuck to the gymnastics team because I was already close and comfortable with the coaches and I'd be with my friends and it was and still is something I really love to do, not just the events but getting to help others achieve what they thought they never could is an amazing feeling. Getting to watch your close friends succeed makes all the hard-work worth it in the end.
2) Who is your biggest inspiration?
My two best friends Sam Barrere and Kristen Federici. They both inspire me to keep my chin up and always look on the bright side of things. They inspire me to keep pushing through even the hardest times and I'm incredibly grateful for them.
4) Who is your favorite teacher of all time and why?
Mr. Andruilli, he was my 8th grade English teacher in Macopin Middle School. English has always been my favorite subject, but having him as a teacher made it even better. His classes were never boring, he was always entertaining and trying to keep the students interested. He liked to joke around a lot and have fun with the activities in his classes. I was also in the M.A.C.C. Club and he was one of the administrators of the club, he liked to be involved and help anyone that he could. He's always honest and caring, his presence in general has always been inviting and very jolly. He made me actually look forward to school and inspired me to want to make a change in the world and help people. He's just a really good person and it's really hard to not get along with him.
8) What do you do with your time when you are not doing gymnastics?
I like to read and write, I like to draw graffiti (on paper), for fun I like to dance and I also do photography and videography.
10) Share something no one knows about you.
I can't think of anything that absolutely nobody knows.
Maya is an open book to those who know her! We love your enthusiasm and spirit, Maya. And we can't wait to see you dance around the track for the Relay on June 1!
Do you know someone who should be featured here at Take Five? Drop us an email at njoffice@strausnews.com and tell us who and why. We want to feature all of the great kids in our township.
Bonus Five
3) What would most people be surprised to know about gymnastics?
We have some of the most hard working people on our gymnastics team, and nothing is ever as easy as it looks. There's a lot of blood, sweat and tears (literally) that goes into each individual gymnast, their event and their routine.
5) Name three things you would bring with you if you were on a deserted island.
Map/compass, a ship crew and a ship.
6) Share a favorite moment with your team.
There's literally so many, the team is so close and we always have the best times together. One practice in specific sticks out to me the most though. It was a Saturday practice and not a lot of the team members could come to practice (for reasons unnamed) so instead of doing warm-ups, the captains and the team agreed to play a game, and they chose Red Rover. Everyone played together and laughed and was joking around, it was all so much fun and so refreshing to see the team take a break from the hard work for a few minutes to let loose and just be teenagers. I don't think I've ever seen those girls, guys and our coaches laugh as hard as they did while everyone played Red Rover together. So many things happened, but it's one of those "you had to be there" moments because just the feeling in the gym added onto everyone's good mood and fun, it was one of my favorite days and I will never forget it.
7) What does being a Highlander mean to you?
To me, being a Highlander means staying true to who you are. It means not being afraid to show school spirit even if nobody else is. Being a Highlander in my opinion is about being yourself and sticking out in the crowd. It's about being one of a kind, and helping other people. To me, it means equality, respect and togetherness.
9) What is your favorite movie, book or character and why?
My favorite movie is Ace Ventura: Pet Detective because Jim Carrey is my favorite actor, and he's just really funny and he's got a good sense of humor. He's just hilarious and never fails to make me laugh.