By Maddie Kelly
Ray Hampton doesn’t look too different from your typical STEM student, but he is among the small, yet substantial number of student athletes that attend DRSS. Last year, Ray heard about the Dayton Aeros, one of four teams that are part of the Dayton Area Rugby Club, and decided to join the team with two other DRSS classmates (one being his twin brother, Ben). Since that day, he hasn’t looked back. Having people he knew join with him made him “more comfortable to start the team, but once I got there everyone else was really accepting.”
 |
| Ray Hampton is a junior and an active student athlete at the Dayton Regional STEM School. |
Rugby isn’t the only extracurricular Ray is
involved in. He has played soccer at Xenia High School, his home district, for
three years now, and is a Science Olympiad coach, a volunteer at St. Brigid’s
Parish School of Religion, and a member of JCOWA, math club, and National Honor
Society. He says being involved during high school is important to him,
especially with athletics, which “is a way to bond with classmates and stay
healthy.” He also recommends that any DRSS students who might be interested in
playing sports reach out to their home school district. He says, “In my
experience, they really work with you so you can enjoy the high school sports
experience. They want you to be on the team.” If that’s not an option for some
sports, like rugby, club teams like the Dayton Aeros offer the opportunity to
play sports with other STEM students and to get to know students from all over
the Dayton area.
While Ray has always been active in
athletics, an important inspiration for continuing to stay healthy was his 10th
grade Wellness & Fitness class. “That class definitely made me want to be
more athletic and pay attention to food, nutrition, and activity.” He also
mentioned Ms. Tash, the instructor, as being a big motivator for staying
healthy. Another one of his favorite things about the school is how a lot of
the projects have a community impact and “a purpose behind it besides to get a
grade.”
 |
| Ray and his twin brother, Ben, participate in a Brazilian Jujitsu clinic that took place in Ms. Tash's class. |
Besides being involved in multiple sports and extracurricular
activities, Ray is focused on his future. He wants to be a pharmacist “because
I like math, chemistry, and helping people. The STEM School focuses on math and
makes me like it even more.” While the real world application of the school’s
projects appeals to him, he also appreciates the community the school has.
“People aren’t really excluded from each other, there’s a sense of community
and trust.” This is similar to his thoughts on being involved in athletics and
being a part of a team: “It creates a sense of unity with peers, teaches
responsibility, accountability, character, and trust.”
