Schools
Whiz Kid: David Does What He Enjoys and Doesn't Procrastinate
Town and Country high school junior David Rubenstein was selected to work with scientists and researchers to pursue his passion for bioengineering.
Whiz Kid: David Rubenstein
Whiz Kid Age: 17
Whiz Kids School: Whitfield School
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Whiz Kids Accomplishments: Junior David Rubenstein has been selected to participate in the 2011 Students and Teachers As Research Scientists Program (STARS). The Town and Country teen was chosen to be one of 79 participants from across the United States. During the University of Missouri, St. Louis' six-week program, biologists, chemists, engineers, medical researchers, psychologists and public health experts work with student apprentices, such as David, on research projects in laboratories. Melanie Drake, director of college counseling with Whitfield School in Creve Coeur told Patch that David is interested in biomedical engineering. Drake said he's an independent and motivated student who's a strong student within Whitfield's rising senior class.
"The program is highly selective with a really strong pool of students that gets more impressive each year," Drake said. "David just has that drive, patience and is an excellent student that really does go that extra mile for our classes here. He's done a lot of research in our science program, which is a hands-on program."
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David said he plans to pursue biomedical engineering in college. He's also a thespian who does lighting and sound work for the school plays, a photographer for the school newspaper and a member of Whitfield's environmental club, of which he will be the vice president next year.
Whiz Kids' Key to Awesomeness: "Find something that interests you and try to get your foot in the door in that area. With science and with STARS, I can go to college and already be able to start research while I'm a freshman there with a professor as opposed to what a grad student usually gets to do," David said. "It's stressful, but I can do it. I have a good balance. I start my homework right when I get home, I usually don't procrastinate much. I just get stuff done pretty quickly."
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