Southwest Metro Prep Elite 2012: A Day in the Life

From Advanced Placement classes to track practice, these outstanding high school students pack a lot into one day.

From the issue: August 2012

Photo: Emily J. Davis

Andrea Brinkman of The International School of Minnesota

Andrea Brinkman

Senior, The International School of Minnesota

Accomplishments: varsity soccer, varsity basketball, varsity track and field captain, student life deputy head of sports, choir, academic honor roll, ISM mission trips

Post-High School Plans: “My college plans for after high school are to attend the University of Minnesota and major in psychology, and pursue the career of being a therapist.”

Fall Schedule: AP English comp, post-AP Spanish, pre-calculus, media studies, advising, Photoshop, art, show choir and AP Euro

7 a.m. Rise and shine! Brinkman wakes up and heads to school.

8 a.m.–12 p.m. In four hours, Brinkman takes four 50-minute classes that change daily. Her classes include Functional Analysis, Choir, AP U.S. Government, AP English: British Literature, Pre-AP Spanish, AP Environmental Science. “My favorite subject is AP Environmental Science, and it’s also one of my best,” she says.

12 p.m.–1:15 p.m. Brinkman has a quick break for lunch where she refocuses for the rest of the afternoon. “My goals for the upcoming school year are definitely to stay on task and focused on all of my courses, and to not be affected by ‘senior slide,’” says Brinkman.

1:15 p.m.–3:40 p.m. Three more class sessions, which also change daily, round out the rest of Brinkman’s school schedule.

4 p.m.–5:45 p.m. Depending on the season, Brinkman stays active with soccer, basketball or track. “Out of all the activities I am involved in, basketball is the one I like the most,” Brinkman says. “Not only do I have a passion for the sport, but I also get the opportunity to play with a great group of girls and be coached by a great coach as well.”

Brinkman has also received three recruitment letters for track and says her other extracurricular activities have been lifelong interests.

7 p.m. Brinkman buckles down and completes about an hour of homework before having dinner with her family.

8:30–10:30 p.m. She finds some time to do anything she wants. “This includes Facebook and Skype, walking the dog, hanging out with my family, listening to music, or just some alone time,” explains Brinkman. “I feel privileged to be surrounded by so many caring and supported people in my life.”

10:30 p.m. Brinkman is lights out, and prepares for another busy day.