Rock Falls High School February Student of the Month: Keagan Hicks

ROCK FALLS – Keagan Hicks, 17, of Rock Falls is Rock Falls High School’s February Student of the Month. He is the son of Anna and Terry Hicks, and has tow, brothers, Kameron and Kathan Hicks, and a sister, Mazie Moore.

Favorite class: Calculus, because I like to challenge myself and I enjoy solving mathematical problems. My other favorite class is Holocaust and Genocide, because I enjoy learning about the Holocaust and WWII.

Least-favorite class: AP US history, because I felt as though I couldn’t grasp the concept; however, I was glad I took the class because it taught me how to study better.

Favorite teacher: Mindy Teske, because she would always take the time to make sure every student was heard and did her absolute best to help everyone. She is still willing to help out students even if she is no longer their teacher, which is something I really appreciate.

School activities in which you participate: I am involved in basketball, track, golf, band, Science Club, Junior Optimist (community volunteering), and Building Lasting Impressions that Never Die, where we help students learn leadership and social skills that aren’t explicitly taught in school.

Other activities in which you participate: I help out in any way that I can for my dad and uncle during the Rock Falls River Chase and the Ski Show.

What will you do after high school? I plan to attend Morrison Institute of Technology to pursue a career in engineering. I will be studying engineering technology and computer-aided drafting programing.

What did you learn in high school that you think you’ll never use? Formal outlines are something that I will never use after high school because I think quick, note-format outlines work just as well.

If you could change one thing about your school, what would it be? I would change the way RFHS does drug tests to be more randomized and to test for all extracurricular activities, rather than just sports.

If you could create a new class at RFHS, what would it be? I would create a class for sports to go over history of sports, sports statistics, and the many different jobs available for professional sports.

What does it take to be a successful high school student? Students need to work hard and bring a positive attitude with the belief that they can accomplish anything.

Do you have a job? I am employed at Sterling Walmart, and I enjoy working there because it gives me a taste of financial independence and helps put my social skills to practice.

How would you describe your group of friends? They are supportive and intelligent, which I believe helps me to act the same way toward others.

Who is your best friend? My girlfriend, Kairi Perris. She is special to me because she always supports and does her best to help me succeed in everything I do.

What do you do in your free time? I like to be outdoors, whether that’s going on a bike ride with my younger brother or playing golf with a group of friends. Otherwise, if it’s not ideal to be outside, I like to play video games or board games inside with family and friends.

What kind of music are you listening to? I listen to all kinds of music, anywhere from rock to rap to hip-hop. The only music I do not like is country music.

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be? I would love to travel back to California, and more specifically Hollywood, because of all the people and excitement in the city. A place I have never been to and would love to visit is Poland because I would like to visit Auschwitz for a better understanding of history.

What’s your favorite childhood memory? Spending time outside with my younger brothers, because no matter how mad we ever got at each other, we always made it better by paying at a park or playing basketball in the driveway.

What’s the best way to cheer you up? By playing basketball, because it was the first sport I ever played and the one that I have stuck with throughout my life. I enjoy staying physically active and being with friends, and basketball provides me with a way to do both.

What’s your life’s philosophy? I don’t believe I have a strong philosophy on life, I just believe that it should be lived to the fullest and that everyone should take chances.

What would you do if you received $1 billion all of a sudden? I would split the money up with my immediate family so we would all have personal spending money, and I would probably donate some to local charities, and then probably buy a new car.

Is there anything else you want people to know about you? I love to be social with others and I love to spend time with friends and family (preferably outdoors).