Every Friday, Highlander Publications chooses a freshman to be featured in “Freshman Friday,” giving the student population the opportunity to get to know its freshman class. Meet this week’s featured freshman, Mara Gaskin!

Have you ever broken a bone?

Yes, I broke a bone in my wrist during a soccer game

What is your favorite movie?

Remember the Titans— no contest.

What is your favorite book?

The Night Circus! Highly recommend.

How was your transition from middle to high school?

It was a lot better than I expected. The workload was a lot at first (with soccer and cross country going on), but I think staying busy first tri actually helped me get into the swing of things. Plus, I have a sister in her junior year here and she helped me adjust.

Would you rather fight a chicken to death every time you get into a car, or fight an orangutan to death once a year, but you get a sword?

As much as I’d hate killing four or five chickens a day, I wouldn’t win a fight against an orangutan every year for the rest of my life. What happens when I grow older? A seventy-two year old woman isn’t going to beat an orangutan, no matter how sharp of a sword you give her.

What is your favorite beverage?

Kombucha tea! (Peach Paradise…)

What is a crazy fact about you?

At the end of 2020, I decided to become vegetarian as my New Year’s resolution and then accidentally ate Chick-fil-a on the first day of 2021. Ever since then, though, I haven’t had meat!

What is your favorite animal?

Sea turtles!

What is your favorite class?

Probably English right now, but I also love math.