Eight of our seniors earn recognition as National Merit Semifinalists, placing them in the top one percent of students in the state based on their PSAT scores.
The students are Aishanee Bose, Harvey Flynn, Kevin Hoflich, Timothy Li, Bhavani Mayavaram, Urjith Mishra, James Painter and Zachary Reed. They now advance for a chance at finalist standing and potential corporate or college-sponsored scholarships.
“I was very happy because my hard work had paid off,” senior Harvey Flynn said. “This means I am able to have more financial aid when applying for college, and that makes the hours of studying worth it.”
Flynn explains that his family support shapes his motivation and discipline. He says his father teaches him the importance of staying consistent even during difficult times.
“My father always pushed me to work hard so I could keep the work ethic I gained throughout my life,” Flynn said. “I faced distractions, desire to procrastinate, and general familial duties that took away from my goals.”
Flynn also relies on his faith to stay grounded when he feels overwhelmed. He says his belief encourages him to push forward even when his responsibilities weigh on him.
“My Faith in God, that He would lead me where I need to be as well as a good work ethic for studying what I needed to,” Flynn said. “Remember to keep working hard but remember to have balance.”
Senior Urjith Mishra turns his focus to the details of the selection process. He explains how close the cutoff score feels when the results are finally posted.
“When the cutoffs came out on September 10th,” Mishra said. “I was surprised to see that I only barely qualified. The cutoffs were much higher than predicted.”
Mishra reflects on how chance influences standardized testing. He says test performance often depends on factors beyond preparation alone.”
“I know there’s a lot of randomness and luck that goes into taking any standardized test,” Mishra said. “Simply based on how difficult the test is and how you’re feeling that day. While I only barely qualified, I’m thankful to have been blessed with this opportunity.”
He also describes the strategies that help him study more effectively. Mishra points to free resources as a valuable tool for practice.
“Working through the questions on Khan Academy was really useful because the questions were similar to the actual test,” Mishra said. “I could focus on only the questions that stumped me the most.”
Mishra encourages future students to take preparation seriously. He believes the work pays off in ways that may not be clear at first.
“Even if you don’t think the National Merit Scholarship is useful right now, try your best to prepare for the PSAT to maximize your chance to be a semifinalist,” says Mishra. “Being a semifinalist can open the door to many programs.”
