Oakdale Patch Whiz Kid: Tartan's Kelsey Youngquist

Oakdale Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: Kelsey Youngquist, 12^th Grade

School:

Accomplishment: Finalist in the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Essay Contest

When Tartan’s Kelsey Youngquist heard the topic of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Essay Contest this year, she was intrigued. The subject—the economics of higher education—was especially interesting to the college-bound senior, she said.

She was happy to confirm through her research that pursuing higher education makes sense, she said, however, she did learn a few things along the way.

“It made me think that college isn’t a time just to mess around,” she said. “It’s a time to get the most out of the knowledge that you’re receiving so that you can be able to pay off all of these debts that you make and really just have a better life because of it.”

Youngquist’s essay was among the top 30 in the state, which earned her a $100 prize.

She wrote the essay to fulfill a requirement for her Advanced Placement macroeconomics course. Although Youngquist plans to study biology in college, she took the tough economics course because she wanted to prepare herself for higher education by taking as many college classes as possible during her senior year, she said.

Aside from her schoolwork, Youngquist is involved in swimming and diving, speech, math team and National Honor Society, and she’s active in her church youth group.

She plans to attend Northwestern College in Arden Hills this fall.