While senior Berend Pearson may have (in his own words) “the worst handwriting ever,” his scholastic prowess and multifaceted involvement at Homer High School surely makes up for it. Pearson is a three-season athlete who has competed on HHS’s football, hockey and soccer teams for his entire high school career. His achievements include, but aren’t limited to, countless state tournament appearances across all sports and most notably two state championship rings in football.
His athletic feats are particularly remarkable in the context of his academic accomplishments; a dedicated student, he chooses advanced coursework to accelerate his learning through opportunities provided by Homer High. In exchange, he serves Homer’s community through his participation in the local National Honor Society chapter, wherein he completes copious service hours and represents the student body population.
One book that changed his perspective over the course of high school was “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald. He shares that it taught him that you must “always … take your time with things in life.”
Post-graduation, he hopes to take his education to the next level by studying mathematical engineering. He credits his work ethic, which grants him the ability to pursue such a rigorous major, to his summers spent commercial fishing during the summertime, a quintessentially Alaskan source of motivation. Speaking on growing up in Alaska, he quips that while he “always disliked living in such a small town, it made me appreciate the people I am closer with more.”
Suzanne Bishop, a Homer High language arts teacher, assigned a mini-biography project to her senior students. These short narratives helped strengthen student’s writing skills while also celebrating their peers. Each week, the Homer Independent Press will feature a student-written Senior Profile, offering insight into the unique lives, experiences and personalities of Homer High’s Class of 2027.
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