Ben Craft is going places.
The Tidioute Charter senior will soon combine his love for the environment and the human race into a worthwhile profession.
His father, Mike, is sure of it. He's just not sure yet where that will be, or what.
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TCCS senior Ben Craft
"(Ben has) always been really interested in the environment," said his father, Mike.
When he was 12, he spent an entire day at a conservation camp tagging and identifying birds and has been enjoying it ever since. "We've always been an outdoor family," said Mike.
Now Ben wants to spread his wings - but he hasn't yet decided how. Could be college, or could be the Job Corps.
Where ever he starts the rest of his life, it will be for a good cause.
"Ben's always been a caring person," said Mike. "Even when he was a little kid playing soccer, if somebody fell down and got hurt, he'd stop and help them up."
Q: Who are your parents, siblings, what sports do you participate in?
A: Mom, Jill Craft; Dad, Mike Craft; Brother, Jacob Craft
Q: How long have you lived in Tidioute, gone to TCCS, and what are the advantages and disadvantages of going to a small school.
A: I have lived in Tidioute for 10 years and I have gone to TCCS since I was in 2nd grade. The advantages of going to a small school are the teachers are more personal. You get more one on one interaction, which makes every student feel as if they stand out. I also enjoy the closeness that you feel. I don't feel there are any disadvantages of going to a small school. As long as you are persistent in doing in what you want to do, you will find the opportunities present themselves.
Q: You have been through the TCCS basketball program. How far has the program come from when you started, and what do you think was your greatest moment as a team, and as an individual?
A: At first it was hard because we were no longer part of the basketball league and that put a lot of stress on the coaches. They had to find other teams to compete with. Our greatest season as a team would probably have been last year. Our varsity went .500, and our JV won more than expected. My greatest moment as an individual was this year, when I scored the first points of the season.
Q: What was your role as a senior on this year's team?
A: Like every senior on the team, my job was to inspire the younger players by letting them know they can always play better as long as the try their hardest.
Q: What do you want to be for the rest of your life? And, have you made plans for after high school? How are you going to go about accomplishing your goals?
A: I would like to spend the rest of my life encouraging people to be aware of how their actions affect more than just them. The way I see myself achieving this is by becoming an organic chemist. I want to write a book about how the food and medicine we ingest adversely affects us. My plans after high school involve my girlfriend and I Alexandrea Nester going to job corps and for to me to be a pharmacy tech and for her to be an LPN. I will accomplish my goals by staying persistent and keeping my hunger for knowledge alive.
Q: I know you are also a cross country runner. What is your favorite sport and why? How does your personality come out in the sports you participate in, or within the teams you are on?
A: I enjoy cross county the most because it is such an individual challenge. I do sports for me, not anyone else. I try to keep my personality away from the game time so I can focus on the task at hand.
Q: What are your hobbies outside of sports?
A: My hobbies include hanging out with my girlfriend, reading and running.
Q: What is something you'll remember most about Tidioute Charter?
A: The memory that I hold closest is when I met Alexandrea.
Q: If I could grant you three wishes (which I obviously can't), what would they be, and why?
A: I would wish for:
1. a life-time subscription to National Geographic;
2. the ability to teleport, with objects and people;
3. the building of Tokemex will be done by 2015.
Q: What is something people would be surprised to find out about you?
A: My brother is my best guy friend.
Q: Tell me a question, or two, you think I should have asked, and then answer it.
What classes do I enjoy the most?
Philosophy 1 & 2 has influenced me the most. Now I have more respect for the decisions I make.