With a passion for working out and an overwhelming sense of dedication, strong and driven senior John Gembarski will attend Penn State University to participate in their mathematics program.

What are three words to describe your personality?

Three words to describe my personality would be ambitious, impartial, and rational. These words describe my personality because ever since I was a child I have tried to be as pragmatic as possible, so that is pretty much what I have become.

What school will you be attending and as what major?

Next year I will be attending Penn State, and am currently enrolled as a mathematics major. I chose this path because I have always enjoyed math, especially how it can be applied to real world circumstances in order to solve problems, so that is what I want to do.

How did you prepare for college?

Throughout high school I took all of the math classes I could, not because I was planning on majoring in math, but just because I loved doing it. I felt that this really helped prepare me for what is to come in college.

What inspired you to start lifting?

I was initially inspired to lift by my desire to improve myself, and make myself the best version of me I can be.

What is your daily gym workout?

Currently I am doing a push/pull/legs split, doing pull on Monday and Thursday, push on Tuesday and Friday, and legs on Wednesday.

Will you ever life competitively?

At this point in my life, I do not plan on ever competing, but who knows what will come in the future, maybe one day I’ll decide to do it. As it stands now, my personal record on bench press is 265lbs for one rep, but I cannot be satisfied until I hit at least 315lbs.

When did you start lifting?

I began lifting consistently in January of 2017, before that I lifted occasionally, but it was nothing too serious.

What advice do you have to people who want to start body building?

The most important advice I could give to someone looking to start is to know what their goals are and just start it.

What was your best high school memory?

My best high school memory was when we placed fourth in the state in Envirothon because it was the best our county has ever done, and we were not that far behind the teams ahead of us.

What was your worst high school memory?

My worst high school memory was when a lot of my friends graduated last year.

Which band could play the soundtrack to your high school career and why?

The band I would want to play the soundtrack to my high school career would be Two Steps from Hell because they make some epic, cinematic pieces.

If there were a movie made about your high school days, which actor would play you and why?

The one actor that could pull off the role of me would be Steve Buscemi because he is Steve Buscemi.

Who influenced you the most during the past 4 years in high school?
The one person that had the most influence on me in high school was my brother Brian because we are close.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

In ten years from now I will be ten years older, in a place that I cannot predict.

What will you miss about high school?

The event I will miss the most will be Envirothon because I have done it since freshman year, and it is a really fun competition.

What is one quote you live by and why?

The best quote to live by is from Marcus Aurelius, and goes “It is death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live.” I like this quote because it is a reminder that you need to make your life into what you want it to be.