Whiz Kid of the Week: Anne Wu

In our weekly column Whiz Kids, Arcadia Patch singles out younger Arcadians who are amazing in some way.

We are asking for your nominations for Whiz Kids, so please suggest a special Arcadia kid, teen or youth group in the comment box below. Read more about nominations .

And without further ado, we present this week's Whiz Kid:

• Whiz Kid's Name: Anne Wu
  
• Whiz Kid's School/Church/Community Center:
• Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Anne has been in the Marching Band and on ASB/Class Council all four years of high school. She is co-president of two commissions: SCOC (Student Council Orientation Commission), which helps new students and freshmen feel more integrated and welcome to the high school, and SCAC (Student Council Apache Commission), which protects and makes sure the school symbol, the Apaches, is used appropriately. The group also hosts money and clothing drives for the White Mountain Apaches in Arizona. Anne volunteers with the Tzu-Chi Organization and and is also in the Senior Men and Women service group. In addition, she and her friends created a youth team for Relay for Life two years ago that raises money for the American Cancer Society.
• Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness: Said Wu: "I am mostly self-motivated and I really like the feeling of accomplishment, or making a difference. It feels good knowing that with determination and perseverance, I can reach reach my goals despite any setbacks in life. My optimism and enthusiasm also plays a big role in self-motivation because instead of dwelling on what has already happened, I like to look forward to the future of opportunities!"

Now a few more interesting facts about this week's amazing Whiz Kid:

• Anne is headed north for college. She's already submitted her Statement of Intention to Register at UC Berkeley for next fall.
• She hopes to receive a PhD in Psychology and ultimately find a job (perhaps as a psychiatrist/psychologist or therapist) that will help those struggling. "I'm a strong believer in helping others whenever we can and I hope that by specializing in a specific job, I will make an even bigger difference in people's live," she said.
• Just how does this talented teen spend her free time? Sleeping, of course! She also enjoys knitting and sewing to pass her hours. 
• Anne's favorite book is Tuesdays With Morrie; she listens to all kinds of music, ranging from rap to country; and she doesn't have a TV, but enjoys catching up with Glee online.
• Her role model is her sister April. "Growing up, she has always encouraged and motivated me," Anne said. "She pretty much taught me everything I know and is the reason why I'm the person I am today. I am so grateful to have an older sister like her."