Tessa Kraynak

Fox competes in a Suburban League Track meet at Joesph Pappano Stadium.

The average high school student might find balancing athletics, academics, and extracurricular activities overwhelming. Senior Lily Fox, however, excels in each of these areas every day.

Fox’s daily schedule includes participation in Key Club, varsity track, National Honor Society (NHS) and multiple Advanced Placement (AP) classes. Fox’s involvement and hard-working nature demonstrate all the qualities of a leader—a label that accurately describes the positions she holds in her various extracurricular activities. Fox is the vice president of Key Club, fundraising chair in NHS, and a captain in track.

Fox considered what makes her so prone to success and motivates her participation in so many activities, and ultimately decided it was her aspiration to achieve as much as possible in all areas of her life. From athletics to extracurriculars, Fox interacts with numerous types of people with varying degrees of dedication and involvement, yet, Fox consistently demonstrates determination and a strive to achieve more among her peers.

“[People] don’t feel motivated to do more than the bare minimum in life. So I’ve learned that . . . [if you] do more than that, you’ll find success,” Fox said.

Paul Fisher, a biology teacher and the advisor for NHS, has worked with Fox in multiple capacities over the last few years. Fox was a student in Honors Biology her sophomore year, the same year she was inducted into NHS, and is currently enrolled in AP Biology. Fisher described Fox’s driven mindset, and how it contributes to her academic and extracurricular success.

“She’s very organized. When she sets her mind to something, she’s going to go out there and do that. She is definitely a go-getter, [and] she is very motivated and task oriented,” he said.

Fox’s go-getter attitude shines within her track career, also. Colleen Fry, who has coached Fox for two seasons of track, described the actions Fox takes to lead her teammates at track practice.

“We work on hurdles, [and] she also is in some of the varsity relays. She is a leader when it comes to all of the hurdlers. She kind of takes charge and runs them through the workouts, which is amazing,” Fry said.

Track events can range from quick and demanding to long and endurance-based, but they all require equal parts physical skill and mental strength. Fry explained how hurdles, Fox’s primary event, present a particularly difficult challenge.

“You have to be mentally strong, especially to run 300 meters as fast as you can while going over hurdles,” she said.

Fox’s confidence and hard-work at practices leads to success at meets, and her dedication supports her through even the most taxing events. Fry noted Fox’s consistent drive to improve and push herself to reach her full potential. Fox described the feeling of athletic success, which serves as a source of motivation at meets.

“[Meets are] mentally really challenging, because my anxiety gets really bad. . . . But then when you do good, it’s so rewarding,” Fox said.

Strong communicative and collaboration skills are crucial to succeed in a team sport, such as track relays. With four years of experience working with other dedicated athletes, Fox has gained valuable experience as a team player. Fisher emphasized how Fox’s team-oriented skills translate from the track to the classroom.

”Lily not only communicates really well. . . [and] is very motivated, but she’s a great part of the leadership team for NHS. So she’s a good teammate there, and works well in collaboration with those other officers,” he said.

Beyond her individual success, Fox fosters a passion for helping others and the community around her. She pursues frequent volunteer opportunities through NHS and Key Club, and has utilized her academic gifts to tutor other students.

Fox tackles many responsibilities in her role as NHS fundraising chair. She coordinates all fundraising activities throughout the year, the most notable being the annual winter formal hosted by NHS. Fox organizes security, chaperones, musical logistics, and decorations to help the dance run smoothly. The money gathered from this event funds NHS scholarships and awards for other hardworking students and supports numerous events that give back to the local community.

Fox will continue her hard work through the end of the school year, and plans to further her track career at the collegiate level following graduation.