Whiz Kid of the Week: Athlete and Musician Rebecca Morris

This week's Whiz Kid comes from a long line of San Marinian Morris kids.  With two brothers and a sister graduated from the , each one has gone on to study at prestigious universities across the nation.  Rebecca Morris is quite the talented young lady in her own right as a violist, an athlete, and a scholar.

Whiz Kid's Name: Rebecca Morris

Whiz Kid's Age: 18 years old

Whiz Kid's School: , Senior

Whiz Kid's Accomplishments:

Rebecca has received multiple accolades in the areas of soccer, track and field (high jump), and musical performance. She's performed viola in numerous gigs and has been playing soccer competitively for nearly 12 years.  As a soccer player, she's received MVP for the SMHS Girls Varsity soccer team and was the All Rio Hondo League's Most Valuable Defensive Player.

Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness:

The key to Rebecca's awesomeness is not just her hard-working attitude or even her long list of talents, but the many role models she has in her life.  As the youngest of four children, she has a lot of examples of inspiration and her siblings' willingness to support, encourage, and teach her only push her to excel.

While Rebecca participates in a wide range of activities as a musician (principle violist for both the and the Pasadena Young Musicians Orchestra), an athlete (Captain and MVP of the SMHS Girls Varsity Soccer Team), and scholar, the real key to her success is that she loves everything that she does.  Where many teenagers her age only participate to beef up their college resumes, Rebecca is motivated by her love for being active.

Senior year, she decided to join marching band so she taught herself trombone over the summer.  Rebecca said, "The greatest feeling in the world is being on that stage performing or that field competing, and knowing all the work was worth it.  That's why I do it.  These are experiences that have taught me so much of what I know and have defined who I am.  It has always been my choice what I do, and for that I thank my parents."

Music and sports aside, Rebecca's scholarly side is particularly drawn to archaeology.  Having traveled with her family around Europe every summer since she was born, she has always been in constant contact with a diverse spectrum of cultures and histories.

Rebecca will be attending Tufts University to study archaeology. Rebecca sees it as a way of exploring and bringing together art, culture, history, and travel into one field.

In her spare time, if any, Rebecca would like to be able to do more chamber music performance and read just for fun.

Bonus Questions

What is your favorite food?

All things potatoes

What is the last book you read for pleasure?

The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas

If you had the power to change one thing in the world to make it a better place, what would it be?

"I would eliminate ignorance and intolerance."

Family Members

Father: Stephen - Attorney

Mother: Christine - German School Teacher

Sister: Katherine, 28 - Columbia University

Brother: Ben, 25 - Harvard Medical School

Brother: Toby, 22 - John Hopkins Peabody Conservatory of Music

Family Dog: Frodo