With Merit: Josh Wen

The Southeast Missourian concludes its series of profiles of local National Merit semifinalists this week. These scholars scored big on the PSAT. Out of more than 1.5 million juniors who took the test in 2008, 16,000 were named semifinalists. They will now compete for finalist standing by taking the SAT and submitting an application and recommendations -- with the hope of winning a scholarship. The final scholar is Josh Wen, who plays violin for the Southeast Missouri Symphony Orchestra. Wen also performs with as many instrumental groups at the high school as possible.

School: Cape Girardeau Central High School

Age: 17

Parents: Joseph and Lisa Wen

What's your favorite school activity and why? Marching band. I get to work with other hard workers. Also, I've been in it since freshman year, so it has become a sort of family for me. Mr. Casey, Mr. Lamar, Mr. Keys and Mrs. Casey are all excellent teachers.

How do you balance school and extracurricular activities? I can't really answer that question. Things just work out somehow, and I rejoice because of it. All I can say is that I do most of my homework at school.

What is your dream college and what do you plan to study? I'd like to do a violin performance major at a small music school that is competitive yet nurturing. Frequent contact with faculty members is a must. Right now, I'm really looking into the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

Who is your favorite teacher and how did they inspire you to learn? Dr. Brandon Christensen, the violin professor at [Southeast Missouri State University]. He's given me many musical opportunities and always gives me insight when we look back on my decisions. I think one thing that really sets me apart from other academically gifted students is my high capacity to analyze the abstract sides of something, and it is Dr. Christensen's discussions about music that began my path to realizing this capacity.

What is your most notable academic achievement? The achievement I value the most is earning fives on all my AP tests. Every test has left me a bit shaken and worried about my score, and seeing the grade always brings me great relief.

What is your favorite high school memory? My favorite memory is being a member of the 2008 Marching Tigers Band. The year before, we were incredibly close to achieving an undefeated season, losing only at the Greater St. Louis Marching Competition. We started off the season with a bit of a pessimistic attitude because we lost a lot of talent with the seniors who graduated the year before. It was nice to see how this pessimistic band turned into a very hardworking band and achieved the undefeated season that eluded us last year. There was some impressive leadership to witness that year.

What is the biggest challenge facing your generation? The challenge I am most concerned about is one that has probably concerned past generations. People don't seem to put their all into the things they do. This results in jobs being done poorly, children being raised badly and problems being left unsolved. With our current economic conditions and our current global political/social/environmental problems, it has become even more crucial for our generation to work harder than the last ones. People need to care about what they do.

How do you plan to address it? I think the best way to solve this problem is to find ways to inspire children. My music teachers inspired me and gave me something that I can care deeply about. My dedication to music, I think, has in fact expanded my capacity to dedicate myself to other things. Drilling scales has helped me sit down and do 70 short-answer U.S. history questions in one night. Doing detail work on fast passages has helped me look over and fine-tune important essays. I find it difficult to not be serious in all the things I do.

What are your expectations for college? No matter what college I go to and what major I pursue, I hope I can find something I care about and latch onto it. I'm preparing for the rest of my life after all, and that's a serious matter.