Striving for Excellence

High school can be a challenge when students are working to maintain good grades and healthy friendships while exploring their post-graduation options. Tiffany Zweifel is one student who goes above and beyond in her quest to be the best she can be and to make solid choices.

An 11th grader from MetroWest, Tiffany is setting an example of what it means to attain personal excellence. She is in five honor societies at Olympia High School (OHS) and has met all of the school’s community service requirements. She is also an OHS Advanced Placement Experience Scholars Academy student and is working hard to become a champion at the Junior Olympics Competition for synchronized swimming.

So, how does she do it all? “The most important thing I’ve learned is time management,” Tiffany says.

Her main academic interests lie in the medical field. Tiffany’s achievements in school led to her selection for the University of Florida (UF) Quest Program. While there, she met the president of UF and practiced medical procedures on simulators. “After graduation I want to go to the University of Florida and get a biology degree and be a pediatric dentist,” Tiffany says.

Community service is important to Tiffany, who has worked at the Health Central Hospital surgical unit as well as with charities like the March of Dimes and Give Kids the World where she scoops ice cream for the kids staying at the village. “At Give Kids the World, I’m helping the kids who are going through tough times,” she says. “With one kid, it was the first time he’d had ice cream in a long time. He was so excited.”

Tiffany also volunteers at her school where she has helped with the OHS art drive, delivering donated art supplies to kids in need at Christmastime.

“Despite her down-to-earth appearance, Tiffany has an amazing, adventurous spirit which she shows not only in her artwork but in her choices to travel abroad for new artistic and cultural experiences,” Angela D. Lunsford, a digital arts instructor at OHS, says.

She even thinks of giving back to others while doing everyday errands like getting a haircut and has donated eight inches of hair to Pantene’s Beautiful Length program. This program accepts hair donations that are turned into free wigs for women who are battling cancer.

“Tiffany is very unique with a sweet disposition,” her mom Laura says. “She strives daily with her inner strength and spirituality leading her to make good choices. My wish for her is to continue this path throughout her life.”

Tiffany feels good about giving back in so many different ways. “By helping others have a smile on their face, it makes you feel good about yourself,” she says. “I’m so fortunate. It is good to give back to others who don’t have the same opportunities.”