Cesar Querimit (12) is a finalist for the National Merit Scholarship. Winners are high-achieving seniors who advance from the semifinalist stage by meeting the top academic standards. This includes: submitting a comprehensive application, securing a high SAT/ACT score, and receiving a school principal’s endorsement. There are fewer than the top 1% in each state who become finalists, earning them a Certificate of Merit and qualifying them to compete for scholarships. Querimit feels good about being a finalist because of all the hard work he did to become one.
“It feels good, and it’s an honor to be a finalist. I worked very hard to get to this spot, and it feels good to have this honor,” Querimit said.
With Querimit being a finalist, he is eligible for three different scholarships. These scholarships are: the National Merit Scholarship, which is $2,500; the Corporate-Sponsored Scholarship, which is $10,000 per year; and the College-Sponsored Scholarship, which is $2,000 per year. With these different scholarships, he feels good about being eligible for them.
“I think it’s good because any scholarship can really help towards my college education and other needs. Anything would really help if I got any of these scholarships,” Querimit said.
With these possible scholarships and the amount of money he could possibly win, Querimit would put it towards his college or other things if he does.
“If I win, I would use the money from these scholarships to put it towards my college or use it to buy food,” Querimit said.
Since Querimit is a finalists for the National Merit, he is above more than 1% of American High School Student in the State of Indiana. He feels good about being more than 1% of American High School students in Indiana because of his SAT/ACT scores.
“It feels good to be above more than 1% of American high school students in the state of Indiana because I worked really hard to get this,” Querimit said.
In the future, Querimit plans on studying Biology, and what he hopes to do in the future is to get his medical doctorate.
“I’m looking towards studying biology, and hopefully I can get my medical doctorate in the future. I want to work in medicine, and then hopefully even public health. That’s still a long way away, like 12-14 years down the line,” Querimit said.
What inspired him to study biology and medicine for his future career was his parents.
“I wanted to study medicine because I was really inspired by my parents, and I feel like I wanted to help people out there. I feel one of the best ways to do that is by actively helping them through medicine,” Querimit said.
Querimit hope to contribute to others in the future is to help others who need help, like people who have diseases, by providing them comfort and the help they need.
“I hope I can help people who need help. People who have ailments or diseases or anything; just to be able to provide them some comfort, provide them with lifesaving treatment, and something to help make a difference in people’s lives,” Querimit said.
