Alumni Chat: Winter Vinecki
Winter Vinecki is a recent OHS graduate (Class of 2016), and a member of the US Freestyle Ski Team. Contributor Rebecca Kenney learns more about Winter's fascinating life in the interview below.
Pixel Journal: After graduating last year (Class of 2016), what have you been up to?
Winter Vinecki: Since graduating last year, I have begun my freshman year at the University of Utah, pursuing a degree in Entrepreneurship. At the same time, I have continued to train for aerial skiing on the US Freestyle Ski Team. All summer long, I perfected my tricks on water ramps, including full full (a trick consisting of two flips and two full twists), in preparation for the upcoming competition season. Now that water ramping is over for the summer, I am busy doing strength and conditioning as well as training on trampolines. As soon as we get snow in Park City, it's go time!
Another amazing project that I became a part of this year is Boosterthon, a 9 day fitness, character and leadership program that allows students to raise much needed funds for their schools. This years theme for Boosterthon is "Backyard Box Office' and features five inspiring kids who are making a difference. As the character of "Grit It Out," I get to inspire over 1.3 million students in 1,900 schools across the country this school year to never give up, even when things are challenging.
PJ: What are your plans for the future (as well as your past accomplishments), and what has inspired you to pursue these things?
WV: One of my biggest goals right now if to make it to the Olympics. I am currently ranked 4th in the country for women in aerial skiing and hope to represent USA in the upcoming 2018 Winter Olympics. I am also working on getting a major in Entrepreneurship at University of Utah. I hope to use to this degree to not only pursue my interest in the business world but also to expand my foundation, Team Winter. I started Team Winter when I was just 9 years old after my dad was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of prostate cancer. Even though my dad lost his battle to cancer after only 10 short months, I have continued Team Winter is his memory. In 2013, I set the world record for the Youngest Person To Run Marathon on All Seven Continents, in honor of my dad and all the other men and families affected by prostate cancer. To date, with the help of kids and adults around the world, Team Winter has raised almost a half million dollars for prostate cancer research and awareness. I want to only increase this amount and hopefully help find a cure one day for this disease that affects 1 in 6 men.
PJ: How do you think your OHS experience has helped to prepare you for these things (if it has), academically and personally?
WV: The most obvious way OHS has helped me prepare for these goals is academically. With some of the best instructors and the most difficult courses, OHS truly gives you an education like no other. It made switching to college classes simple and easy, since I was already doing college level work in an environment that was more similar to a college than a high school. Since OHS requires a great deal of self motivation and accountability, it also helped me become more independent and responsible. These key lessons help me in all aspects of my life, whether it is being on top of my schooling at the University of Utah or being a professional athlete on the US Ski Team.
PJ: What has the unique nature of the OHS allowed you to do in pursuing your goals, and what led you to OHS?
WV: In 7th grade, I began thinking about switching to online schooling so that I could pursue competitive sports at an elite level. Not willing to sacrifice a good education in the process, my mom and I were hesitant to me making the switch. That was until we found out about Stanford OHS. Knowing Stanford OHS would give me the flexibility I needed for my training and traveling while still giving me an amazing education, I immediately applied. That next year, I began my first year at OHS as an 8th grader and continued with the program through my senior year of high school. There is no other program that could of worked out better! In my freshman year, I moved away from my family to train on the Olympic development team for aerial skiing in Park City, UT. With constant training and traveling for competitions, OHS allowed me to do my schooling no matter where I was in the world. Now as a member of the US Ski Team, I can look back at my high school years knowing I had one of the best educations possible, while still being able to chase after my dreams.
PJ: Looking back on your high school career, is there anything that you would change? Any tips for current OHS students/high schoolers?
WV: The one thing that I would change about my time at OHS is the time I spent getting to know the other students. I knew many of the names and faces of my classmates but I didn't really know much about them. After attending graduation and actually getting to know everyone in person or the first time, I realized that there was a whole other side to OHS that I had not taken advantage of. My advise to current OHS students is to take some time to get to know the other amazing students through events like meet ups and graduations, when possible. It can really make your classes feel like much more than just a webpage full of pixelated faces. Another piece of advise that I have is to not let the stress of classes get in your way of learning all the amazing content. The challenging course load can feel very overwhelming at times, but remember to take some time to actually absorb the information, rather than just covering the basics. You will be glad you did once all the papers and exams of high school are over.