Sterling High School November Student of the Month: Trinity Winchell

Trinity Winchell, 17, of Sterling, is one of Sterling High School’s November Students of the Month. Her parents are Angie Winchell and Dustin Winchell.

Favorite class: AP psychology. I really enjoy learning about the mind and why people do the things they do. We just finished a unit on dreams, which was also very interesting.

Least-favorite class: Gym. It is usually really hot, and I have it at the beginning of my day, which always messes up my hair.

Favorite teacher: I can’t name one favorite teacher. I love every single one of them. They have all helped me in so many ways and are the best teachers I could ever ask for.

School activities in which you participate: Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Young Doctor’s League, Rotary, and National Honor Society. I also was the accountant for Robotics my junior year.

Civic, church, or other volunteer activities in which you participate: I volunteer at CGH Medical Center at the reception desk. Right now, I have about 110 hours. I also participated in UNITE, where I helped paint houses for low income families. Pre-COVID-19, I volunteered at my church, Living Bread, as kitchen help.

What will you do after high school? I plan to attend Sauk Valley Community College for my first 2 years and then transfer to University of Illinois at Chicago. I plan to major in Biology and minor in Spanish. Then, I plan to go to medical school, where I will become an anesthesiologist.

What is something you learned in high school that you think you’ll never use? The chain rule and implicit differentiation from AP Calculus.

If you could change one thing about your school, what would it be? I would add a pool so students could swim during gym.

If you could create any new class at your school, what would it be? Another foreign language class. Currently, all we have is Spanish, so I would like there to be more of a variety.

What does it take to be a successful high school student? A lot of determination and time management. Sometimes, I give up hanging out with my friends to study. A lot of people don’t understand why I do this, but it pays off, and I know it will benefit me in the future. Another thing is that I always strive for perfection. If I take a test and miss even one point and the teacher offers corrections, I will make sure I get into their room and fix that one question, just to get the highest grade possible.

Do you have a job? I do not have a “real” job, but I often dog sit for some of my neighbors. I love animals, and since I don’t have any of my own, it is nice to be able to play with them for a few days.

How would you describe your group of friends? Really close and small. All of my friends are really intelligent and great people.

Who is your best friend? My boyfriend Isaiah. He is special because he motivates me and always encourages me to do my best.

What do you do in your free time, outside of school activities? I like to spend a lot of time with my family and friends. One of my favorite hobbies is collecting coins with my dad.

What kind of music are you listening to? My taste in music is all over the place, and I listen to a variety of genres. Right now, I am listening to a lot of rap and country.

If you could go anywhere in the world for free, where would it be? Puerto Rico. My uncle lives there, and the beaches are beautiful. I went a few years ago, but I would love to go again.

What is your favorite childhood memory? When I was baking cookies with my grandpa, and he took the mixer out of the bowl. Cookie dough went everywhere, including all over me.

What is the best way to cheer you up? Chocolate cake with chocolate frosting.

What is your life’s philosophy? “Someone else is happy with less than what you have.”

What would you do if you received $1 billion all of a sudden? I would help all my family members, but my mom especially. She always makes sure I have everything I need and want, so I would buy her a new house and a new car. Then I would help all of my grandparents. Finally, I would donate money to some of my favorite charities.

Is there anything else you want people to know about you? I have Crohn’s disease, but I persevere, despite the crazy fatigue that comes with it.

Your favorite …

App: TikTok

Food: Chicken nuggets from Chick-fil-A

TV show: “Friends”

Color: Purple

Number: 3