FEATURED ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Lyndi Parent North Putnam
Lyndi Parent is a three-sport athlete at North Putnam (volleyball, basketball and track and field), and is also one of four Putnam County finalists for the Lilly Endowment Scholarship.
Banner Graphic: Is it difficult to balance playing three sports with your academics, and do they work together?
Lyndi Parent: “I have always put schoolwork first. I think I’ve been a natural leader on the court, since everyone looks at me and knows I do well in the classroom and it works. It keeps me busy, but I like being busy.”
BG: Have any particular classes or teachers prepared you more than another for your academic success?
LP: “I think each class and teacher has had a part in developing me academically. I have had some subjects where I’ve had the same teacher more than once, like Miss Maier [for chemistry and physics]. I really enjoy my science classes.”
BG: What is the status of the Lilly scholarship?
LP: “I had my final interview in October, and we are just waiting on the results. We will find out in December who got it. I was nervous for the interview, but there was a dinner before it and that helped to be more comfortable.”
BG: Are any of your sports your favorite one, or do you just like them all?
LP: “I like the sport of volleyball, I enjoy the team aspect of basketball and in track I like having a more individual sport where my success depends solely on me.
BG: What sorts of non-sports or school things do you like to do?
LP: “Right now, I’m really into Hallmark Christmas movies. I have about 12 of them on DVR waiting on me. I have done 4-H in the past, showing pigs and sheep. That takes up a lot of time, but I enjoy doing that.”
BG: What is something that you would like to do that you haven’t done before?
LP: “I would like to go skydiving or zip-lining in Nepal. We watched a movie in seventh grade about zip-lining in Nepal, and it looked really fun.”
BG: Do you have any pets?
LP: “I have an Australian Shepherd named Wrigley, and I want to get another one for graduation and name it Boiler.”
BG: What are your plans for after high school?
LP: “More than likely I’ll be going to Purdue to study pharmacy.”
BG: Are you going to miss North Putnam?
LP: “Oh yeah. I’m ready to experience new things, but I have had a very fulfilling four years here and part of me never wants to leave.”