Whiz Kid: Joseph Craven

Whiz Kid: Joseph Craven

School: senior

Accomplishments: Joseph is a six-time all-Ohio swimming competitor and the first boy from Westlake High School to win a state championship title. Craven won first place in the 100 meter butterfly at the state Swimming and Diving Championships last month.

But Craven doesn't spend all of his time in the pool. He is also a National Merit finalist and an Eagle Scout, so Joseph has no problem balancing his athleticism with his educational goals. This model citizen also volunteers to help others around him. 

"I led a group of volunteers in the teams' equipment setups and cleanup at the 2007 and 2008 American Cancer Society Relay for Life events," he said. 

Joseph said that his favorite subject in school is chemistry.

"The math is fun," he said of it. "My least favorite subject, though, is history."

Craven says he will be attending The Ohio State University in the fall, but he doesn't know exactly what he wants to do with his life, career-wise, just yet. 

"I'm going to try to go to medical school and see where that takes me," he said. "I just want to keep swimming and get good grades in college." 

Keys to Awesomeness: 

In addition to being a swimmer, Joseph is also an avid guitar player. 

When it comes to balancing his education, extracurriculars and social life, Joseph said he just doesn't let the three things conflict. He said he would tell other students who are having problems in school not to give up and to keep persevering. 

"The most important things in life are the most challenging," he said. 

Joseph says his favorite food ever is anything from , and he loves to listen to his favorite music artists, Coldplay and 'Lil Wayne, while snacking on his burrito du'jour. 

The Million Dollar Question:

If Joseph had a million dollars to give to a charity, he said he'd promptly donate it to Cleveland's homeless shelters.

"It gets really cold here in the winter," he said. 

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