Jacob Raver
WATKINS MEMORIAL 18 Senior 4.21 (National Honor Society) Swimming and track
He will enroll at Ohio State, major in computer information and science and possibly attempt to walk on to the swimming team
What did you do on your snow day?
I got a call that swimming practice also was cancelled, so my workout was shoveling the driveway. That wore me out because the snow was heavy. My shoulders got a good workout just like swimming. I didn’t really need a snow day, but I did get a chance to relax.
Why do you enjoy numbers, measurements and theory so much with math?
I’ve been that way since I was a little kid. That’s my thing. I’m taking AP physics, AP calculus and AP literature (among other classes). Physics and calculus intertwine — they bounce off one another — and that helps with learning concepts.
What is your longrange goal?
It would be great to work for Microsoft or another similar organization. For instance, people might have issues with their internet (connection) and I want to help solve that problem.
If my laptop had a problem, would you be able to fix it?
I would. First, you check the networking system. After that, you go into the base software to look for a virus if there is a security issue. Then you go from there. I’m getting there with the security part.
What activities are you in at school besides NHS?
I played clarinet and was a field commander in marching band. We are a competition band and to be in charge of the whole band, well, that’s a lot of pressure. I’m a perfectionist and everything needs to be done in a certain way. I think I helped people be in the exact spot at the exact time. I had the feeling that, “OK, I have a job and I have to get it done.” We hit our state qualifying (rating) in the last competition at Tri-Valley.
How did you find out you made the cut to state?
It gets really quiet and each band is announced. It goes by alphabetical order, and we were last. We heard our name called and everyone just went wild. We could tell that it was a really good night for us when we were performing. There was so much joy when we made it. That was our goal. The last time our band qualified for state was when I was a freshman. It had been a long time for us.
You’ve been on record-setting relays in swimming?
Yes, the 200-yard medley relay when I was a freshman and again and again after that. I swim breaststroke, the second leg. I also was on the 200 freestyle relay. That record was broken since, but we’re close to breaking it.
What goes through your mind when you are on the starting block before your leg on a relay?
I’m just making sure I’m calm. If I try too hard, that’s going to slow me down. I don’t look at the clock, but where each team is at during the race. It’s all about having fun and doing your best for the team, which is your family. I listen to music on my headphones on the bus going to the meet and in between races to get ready. I like all music — pop, rock — everything. Are you a gamer? Yes. It’s all about design and computer technology, and that’s appealing to me. I mess around with games with my friends, and that’s after helping each other out with school. They are going into the same field. We’ll talk online and play against other people. We’ll play Call of Duty of something random like Uno.