EPISD Student Spotlight: Ethan Bailey, El Paso High
(EL PASO HIGH SCHOOL -- May 24, 2021) — El Paso High senior Ethan Bailey kept motivated during the pandemic doing what he loved – playing basketball and staying focused on academics and his leadership roles at La High. Ethan recently received the Presidential Scholarship for Texas Tech, making possible his dream of becoming a nurse one day. Community Engagement sat down for a virtual interview with Ethan for his take on academics and extracurricular activities amid the pandemic in this edition of the EPISD Student Spotlight.
EPISD: How have you balanced academics and athletics throughout your high school career?
ETHAN BAILEY: The way that I balanced basketball and my academics is honestly just not procrastinating on any assignments that I receive and pretty much getting them done. So, if I had a game or practice, I am not worried about not turning something in late. I was also able to set up times for myself where I would focus solely on my academics and other times where I focused solely on my athletics.
EPISD: Tell us about your involvement in Tiger Leads and what you enjoy about it most?
EB: My involvement in Tiger Leads has been a great experience. I enjoy being able to bring communities together whether it be on a small scale or large scale, as well as being able to help in any way possible like having toy drives.
EPISD: Tell us about the Chick-fil-A Academy and how you do?
EB: Chick-Fil-A-Academy is a great opportunity to gain leadership skills. In this particular academy, we put together impact projects throughout the school year to help people in need. For example, this year we did a drive-thru event for the special-needs kids where they were able to take home some toys and be as interactive as possible. This allowed for them to finally get out the house and relieve that feeling of always being home. In this academy, I saw what it took to be a good leader as well as how much work you need to put in as individual to be successful as an individual and at the group level.
EPISD: What are your honors and achievements in high school?
EB: I have maintained all As throughout all my four years of high school and have learned valuable lessons that will help further down the road in life.
EPISD: What activities are you involved in outside of school?
EB: Some activities that I have been involved outside of school is the Miracle League of El Paso where we hosted a kickball game for special needs kids to participate in and have fun. I have also helped out with the Junior Women’s Club of El Paso where I dressed up as our school mascot and greeted guests that were participating in their golf tournament.
EPISD: What are you doing to bring a sense of normalcy to school during the pandemic?
EB: What I have been doing to bring a sense of normalcy to school is go to school for my basketball class and help my coach. I also say ‘hi’ to a few teachers along the way to kind of restore that interaction we had before the pandemic.
EPISD: Congrats on receiving the Presidential Scholarship to Texas Tech. What does this scholarship mean to you in reaching your academic goals?
EB: It feels great to have received the Presidential Merit Scholarship from Texas Tech. It means a lot to me in reaching my academic goals because it shows that if you just put in the work and keep putting in your best effort, it will be worth it in the end. There were numerous times where I doubted myself throughout high school, but I persevered and fought the through the times and it paid off, and I could not be more grateful and appreciative.
EPISD: What do you plan to study and what inspires you about entering the field?
EB: I plan to study nursing to become a Registered Nurse. What got me interested is it just helping people as best as I can. Ever since I was young, I was told that I have this aura to me that radiates good, positive energy so I told myself why not put that to use and help people and uplift people who may not be in the most ideal and great situations.
EPISD: What other colleges have you been accepted to?
EB: I was accepted by the University of Texas at El Paso as well as El Paso Community College.
EPISD: Anything you'd like to say about graduating from El Paso High?
EB: It is an honor to graduate from the Lady on the Hill, a school with such history and beautiful architecture that resonates the past. All in all, it has been a pleasure to have spent my four years of high school at El Paso along with all the valuable lessons I have been taught by the amazing teachers I was able to learn from.
EPISD: What are your plans for the summer?
EB: My plan for this summer is to take a small vacation to San Antonio and possibly go to Six Flags to just catch a break from everything and enjoy life and then of course move along into the college life.
Photos by Leonel Monroy