Photo courtesy of Alan Waterhouse
Ending on a High Note
North senior is a cellist, scientist and optimist
Alan Waterhouse was once challenged by a music teacher to practice the cello every day. She gave her students goals such as practicing 50 days in a row.
Waterhouse – now a 17-year-old senior at Pickerington High School North – practiced for 2,000, ending his several-year streak this summer.
Music, though, is far from the only aspect of Waterhouse’s life in which he shows this level of commitment.
He’s taking four AP courses and a dual credit course at Columbus State Community College. He also commutes to Pickerington High School Central to take an upper-level French course. He has been ranked in the top 10 of his class since freshman year.
Photo courtesy of Alan Waterhouse
Ending on a High Note
When not studying, Waterhouse often practices the cello. He is president of his school’s chamber orchestra and has been involved with the Youth Philharmonic of Central Ohio, Suzuki Music Columbus and the Columbus Cello School. He also teaches music lessons to middle school students.
And the list of Waterhouse’s involvement doesn’t end there. He tutors math and is a member of quiz team and Sunny Side, his school’s peer leadership group. He serves as president of North’s National Honor Society and, after serving on Student Council as class president for several years, is now the student body president.
Additionally, Waterhouse is very involved with his church. He often helps out with sound crew, set-up and take-down for masses. He is the president of the church’s teen speech club and participates in its basketball and volleyball teams.
It’s surprising that he has spare time, but when he does, he plays sports with his friends or watches Netflix. His favorite shows are The Office and Parks and Recreation. He also enjoys traveling; he has been across Europe and to North America and the Caribbean.
“I haven’t been overwhelmed so far,” Waterhouse says of his busy schedule. “It’s a big year, though.”
He draws inspiration mainly from his family. He lives with his parents, Roy and Michelle, and his sister, Julie, who graduated from North in 2013 and now studies early childhood education at Otterbein University. His father grew up in Florida and his mother in downtown Columbus. Neither had an affluent background or a solid academic upbringing, but he says they both became successful in spite of their circumstances.
His father underwent brain surgery a year and a half ago due to a tumor; this is another obstacle Waterhouse admires him for persevering through.
“I learned from my parents to stick through things, look to the future and be positive,” says Waterhouse.
Photo courtesy of Alan Waterhouse
Ending on a High Note
Staying true to that optimism, Waterhouse has high hopes for college. In July, he attended a four-week engineering program at Johns Hopkins University.
“Not only did I get a feel for college, but I met really smart people there, people that just blew me away,” he says.
He has been considering several schools, including Johns Hopkins, Carnegie Mellon University and Case Western Reserve University. He intends to major in mechanical or electrical engineering and minor in music.
As a potential career, he would love to someday help with developing, planning and innovating in the car industry.
And there’s no doubt – he has the drive.
Christina Szuch is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at gbishop@cityscenemediagroup.com.
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