THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 3, 1996 TAG: 9610010136
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 19 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY VICKI L. FRIEDMAN, COMPASS SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: 64 lines
The essay question from College Application 101 typically boils down to something like this: ``You must have had a meaningful life experience by now. Tell us about it.'' Translated: Typical High School senior can write about some sort of community service or involvement in an extra-curricular activity.
That leaves Norfolk Academy's Kendra Robins, who was one of 20 finalists in Virginia for the Wendy's High School Heisman Award (won by Leslie Smith of Laurel Park) that recognizes academic achievement, athletic accomplishments and community service, with a lot to choose from.
Consider: She plays basketball, volleyball, lacrosse and the violin for the Bulldogs orchestra. She is president of Interact, a community service organization. She is sports editor of the school newspaper. She tutors weekly at Bayside Elementary. She participates in model UN as part of the international relations club.
But when it comes down to writing essays for college, Robins is going with the 10 minutes that changed her life. It happened on a freezing night last December, the day the Bulldogs got out for Christmas break. Along with her basketball coach Joanne Renn, Robins went to watch a high school game in Richmond. On the way back, they met a friendly toll booth operator.
``Coach Renn says hi to the toll both lady,'' Robins says. ``We had stopped at 7-11 and gotten hot chocolate. The lady said, `Wow. That looks really good.' ''
Christmas spirit took over from there. Robins and Renn got off at the next exit and found a 7-11. Renn was going to buy hot chocolate for the nice lady in the booth, but Robins suggested they buy enough cocoa and candy canes for all the operators.
Something about the whole deal affected Robins. ``You affect other people,'' she says. ``Any little thing you do, no matter how small, matters.''
Robins, an only child born in Gloucester, has always been doing little and big things. Even as a 3-year-old, she bugged her mom for guitar lessons, but settled for the piano instead. One sport, one club has never been enough to satisfy her zest for life. That's why when she applies to colleges, along with Princeton and Dartmouth, she mentions names like Air Force and Navy. You see she doesn't want to just hit the books there, either.
Air Force ``extra-curriculars'' like parachuting and flying a plane intrigue Robins. ``You don't have those chances everywhere,'' she says.
Grades won't prevent her from being accepted at any of those places. Robins, who wants to be either a doctor or engineer, carries a 4.0, and has ever since she can remember. She scored a 1540 on the SAT, a 790 on the math section: ``I missed one problem. I don't know which one,'' she explains. Her load this year includes calculus, AP physics, AP biology, Spanish literature, Shakespeare and government.
Robins, all-TCIS with a 16-point average last year, would like to play basketball wherever she goes. She purposely is applying to colleges where she feels she has a shot at playing.
``Stanford is a great school,'' she says. ``I'd love to go to it. But I'd be a water girl on the team.''
On the Wendy's application, her task was to write a letter to the student body encouraging others to be involved. What did she say?
``I think I wrote about whatever you become involved in, be committed,'' she says. ``Do something with your all. Give it 110 percent.''
Robins knows no other way. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Kendra Robins
Norfolk Academy star by CNB