Graduate Views Life As A Hike

This week's Whiz Kid is a recent graduate, Mitchell Spring. When asked to describe him,"determined, diligent and inherently curious” were the words used by Spring’s guidance counselor. 

Spring is a National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist, a member of the National Honor Society, the English National Honor Society, World Language Honor Society and Music National Honor Society.

Graduating in the top five percent of his class, Spring is an accomplished student, and has an incredible musical background as well. Spring played the  trombone all four years of high school with the Danvers High School Marching Band, having traveled to Disney World for the New Year's Parade, and to California for the Rose Bowl.   

Spring is a true individual. Michael Cali, principal of  remembers him walking around in his flip flops all year round while playing his harmonica. "I also play the ukulele and have for about a year," Spring said. "I also have a guitar, and banjo, however I play around with them more than I would say I play them."

An avid Boy Scout, and honorary Eagle Scout, Spring compares life to a hike.  "You can put your head down and still get to your tent by 5:30, but you will have missed all the scenery. Don't forget to put up your head and look around once in a while; you'll still get there but will have such a better experience."

"Scouts has taught me a lot about outdoor survival and other such skills, and even more about respect and responsibility," Spring said. "Technically, I never became an Eagle Scout, but I participate in a variety of community service projects such as repainting fences at , restoring a building at the , building a firepit at Endicott Park, building a bocce/horseshoe pit at the senior center, caroling at the senior center, and repainting benches from parks around town."

Spring credits his parents, in large part, for his academic success. "As intellectuals, they instilled in me a love of knowledge and information from a very young age," he said.

What's next for this accomplished young man?

"Next year I'm going to Skidmore and am incredibly excited.  I'm absolutely ready."

Whiz Kid's Name: Mitchell Spring

Whiz Kid's Age: 18 years old, DHS Graduate

Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Top five percent of his class, headed to Skidmore College in the Fall.

Whiz Kid's Advise to Others: "Find balance and...learn for the sake of learning. Pay attention in class, actively participate in discussion, make an attempt to truly understand what is being taught and you will do well on any test or quiz you are given, and better yet, you'll retain the information."

What do you do when you don't care about the subject matter?  "Try connecting it to something does interest you. Turn it into a challenge for yourself, or just learn it for the pride of being able to say you know it.  It comes down to what works for you."