People often experience burn-out from over-exerting themselves in too many activities. They want a break. They want to relax, but some others just push through. Paul Torma brings a positive attitude and maximum effort to everything he does around the Revere community.
From serving ice cream at his family ice cream shop and orchard, Country Maid, to being a marching band conductor, to running for the varsity cross country team, to throwing for the track and field team, to being a car enthusiast, and being a member of Mock Trial, art club, and recycling club; senior, Paul Torma, is involved with many activities in and outside of Revere.
“I was born and raised in Richfield, Ohio. I’ve lived in the same place my whole life. Right next to Country Maid Ice Cream,” Torma said.
Paul Torma’s family runs Country Maid Ice Cream and Orchard.
“My dad along with his brother and sister have been running it. For my dad, about 45 years. The building has been there for around 75 years. My dad took over in the 70s. I think it has always been an ice cream place,” Torma said.
Torma works at Country Maid when he can. He helps organize and sell things in the orchard and ice cream shop. Paul says that his work experiences have been positive and he is looking forward to the future.
“I think it is fun to work there. It’s been a good part of my life.”
Torma says that working at Country Maid has benefited his work ethic and helped him learn how to keep focus on what is important to him. Those traits shine in his life. Torma is a drum major in the marching band. The position shows Paul’s leadership qualities and great work ethic. Tom Chiera is the band director at RHS and has high praise for Torma, describing the skills Torma needed to achieve his rank.
“He had to go through a process that involved demonstration of music skills, communication skills and conducting skills. He had to go through an interview process. He is a very very strong candidate and this will be his second year as our student conductor,” Chiera said.
According to Head Cross Country Coach, Mark Purdy, Torma is also a role model for the team. Purdy mentioned that although Paul might not be the fastest runner on the team, everyone should aim to have Torma’s qualities.
“I wish everyone on the team was like Paul. . . He volunteers to help with things when maybe no one else will step up. I think he’s gotten burdened with more than his share. . . I know he’s busy, but he never uses that as an excuse to cut short,” Purdy said.
Purdy recounted that Paul is always a positive guy and wants to make others happy too, recalling times where Torma would bring free Country Maid ice cream for his teammates or promote fun after hard work.
“He has been the guy who always brings the frisbee to practice in hopes that maybe we’ll play some ultimate frisbee. And I give in once or twice a year,” Purdy said.
Chiera also noticed how Paul would help raise morale in the marching band by remembering that he would bring energy to the band with some small exercises and his positive attitude.
“Paul is amiable by nature, I think he gets along with everybody. He is like the relationship glue with our ensemble. . . Paul was part of our crew that starts every rehearsal, so he is in charge being on a microphone and getting people to go through some calisthenics and wake up and stretch. I think he does a great job making people smile and making people laugh and still getting the job done,” Chiera said.
Outside of school, Torma has a unique passion. Formula 1 is a professional racing circuit that was primarily a European car sport, but now its influence is spreading across the globe.
“I’ve always been one of those kids into cars. I’ve always liked cars; more particularly, Formula 1 cars,” Torma said.
Paul was captivated by Formula 1 and he wants to have a future where cars or racing could be a part of his life.
“In college, I plan to go to OSU for either mechanical or aerospace engineering and work on some cars. . . I like to think about it a lot,” Torma said.
Although racing really interests Torma, he added that he did not think he would be very fast if he started racing and instead would be elated to have a job like a pit crew member.
“Guido’s (Pit crew member from the movie Cars) my role model,” Torma said.
While Torma certainly leads a busy life, he always brings a positive attitude and incredible effort to everything he does in the Revere community, and he still aspires to go even further in the future.
