If you ask anyone around Kearsley what word they associate with Reese Hinman they might say something like ‘books, studying, smart, ect.’ Most people know Reese for her intelligence, she doesn’t make waves except for her perfect grades, but not to me. Reese Hinman has been one of my closest friends since we were in elementary school, and I know she is more than just a smart student. To me, Hinman is a gentle but resilient young woman. She has faced many difficulties on her rise to the top, and I would like to take today to explore what makes her special apart from her grades.
To break the ice, I asked Reese to describe herself in three words. She took a few moments to think about it before responding, “introspective, dedicated, and curious.” Throughout this interview these three ideas keep coming back, it is very clear that these are the values Reese holds the dearest.
It’s even more clear when I asked her what she would want the whole world to hear. “I think people need to look at themselves more, if people worked on themselves we wouldn’t have to worry about the society.”
I think this statement sums up the mindset Hinman lives by. She believes hard work and self-awareness will get her anywhere in life.
After the self introduction I started asking her about her hobbies and passions, the first thing she brought up was art. Reese has been an artist since elementary school, she was always doodling on her papers, or creating paintings. It sounded like art was the way she kept all the pressure of being the best at bay. For her it’s a way to let go of the world and get lost in the process, saying “art is the way I decompress, I have control over it, but I can do whatever I want and express myself.”
She also showed interest in continuing art as a hobby, she wanted to explore making more functional art, “I don’t see it as a career but I would like to continue art in the future and possibly explore pottery, I like the idea of practical art.” Reese’s love of art shows her more creative and thoughtful side.
As she got a little more comfortable I started asking the harder questions, I wanted to know what made her the person she is. When I asked what her biggest struggle was she took a long time to answer, she looked like she was deep in thought. Reese talked about the pressure of being known as ‘the smart kid’. She said, “sometimes when you’re an overachiever the perfect performances become expected. It’s hard to keep up and maintain it, even on rough days.” After I asked why she was so focused on school, her answer gave a peek into the motivations of being at the top. She said, “I feel like working hard now sets me up for a good foundation in the future.” After she said that she showed me a picture of a hill with two paths, one was kind of hard at the beginning but was leveling out at the end, with the caption, “Hard decisions, easy life.” The other path was easy at the start but almost impossible at the end, the caption read, “Easy decisions, hard life.”
One interview and article can’t brush the surface of Reese Hinman, but it is a glance at the mind of our best student. She is proof that smartness isn’t just luck but hard work, and the top is not always easy. She is more thoughtful and passionate than most people know. I am proud to call her one of my best friends and highlight the traits that make her such an admirable person. Her reflective and resilient mindset is something I deeply respect and think everyone can learn from.
