Dan Johnson, Melrose High School Senior, is Our Whiz Kid of the Week

Melrose Patch Whiz Kid of the Week

• Dan Johnson
• Melrose High School, senior
  
• Accomplishment: An all-around student, athlete and volunteer.

Key to Awesomeness: Melrose High School Principal Joe Dillon nominated Dan Johnson, who is the National Honor Society President, recipient last year of the SILS award (Service, Integrity, Leadership and Spirit), a student government representative and multi-sport athlete.

It's sports where Dan has the most fun, saying he plays basketball almost every day with his two best friends, and adding that he's been into sports since he was young.

"I was the first grandson on my Dad’s side, and when I was born, my grandfather came to the hospital with a football, a baseball glove and a baseball," he said. "So it was kind of like I was predetermined to be in love with sports."

Dan played basketball his freshmen year, baseball for two years, spring track for the past two years and winter track for the past three years.

"In winter I run the 600 and relay, and in spring I run the 400, do the triple jump, and run the relay every once in a while," he said. "I think my favorite is the 400 in spring track—600 is too long, it’s horrible. The 400 is one lap, but it feels like nothing when you’ve been in the 600 all winter."

However, his favorite is football, which he has played for four years at Melrose High—most recently as a wide receiver on offense and safety on defense.

"Sophomore year is supposed to be the worst year, because freshmen are by themselves, but sophomore year you go to the varsity practices and you basically just get beat up on by the seniors the whole time," he said, laughing. "So, that’s like the make it or break it year for a lot of people."

Dan credited the coaches with helping him survive his sophomore year of football, and specifically head coach Tim Morris, who Dan credited for reaching out and helping all of the student-athletes on the team.

"He’s really a great person. The thing I respect about him is he thinks more about growing up, us becoming men and adults, and not just winning football games," Dan said. "He teaches more than just football. He teaches life lessons. He'll preach to us about things like getting to school on time, getting good grades ... he’s made such an impact on everybody in the program.

As far as extracurricular activities, Dan said his favorite is serving as a representative in student government.

"People will come to us if they have something that needs to be done," he said. "For instance, there's a Celebrating the Arts program that’s gone on every year at the middle school. One year somebody came to us and said, 'Do you think you can help us out?' and we said, 'Sure.' It’s things like that, it’s an organization that people know they can go to if they need some help. Mr. Dillon will come to us about helping—that's how I got involved in the School Committee."

Dan also serves as one of the two student representatives to the Melrose School Committee, which he admitted can "get boring every once in a while.

"But it’s interesting. I didn’t really know anything about it before hand," he said. "When I got into it originally, I had no expectations at all … you kind of learn about small town politics and stuff like that. I’m interested in politics and things like that."

As for now, Dan's awaiting word back from the various colleges he has applied to. Assumption has already accepted him and he's been deferred at Williams, which he counts amount his top schools, along with Colby, Bates, Tufts and Boston College.

"I know a lot of people who applied to 10 schools and all early action, so they heard by mid-January, they’re like, 'I’m in like 8 schools!' and I’m like …. 'uh, I’m still waiting,'" he said with a little chuckle. "So that was a little annoying, a little nerve-wracking. But then you get the first one, and it’s like, 'OK—I’m going to college.' You feel so much better now."

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We need nominations!

Each week, Melrose Patch will seek suggestions from readers for individual kids, youth groups, teens, and even sports teams that wow us with their accomplishments. We want to hear about these amazing children and teens and select one each week as the Patch Whiz Kid.  Submit your nomination in our comment box below or e-mail the information to danield@patch.com. Be sure to include all of the following information:

• Nominator's Name
• Nominator's E-Mail
• Whiz Kid's Name
• Whiz Kid's Age
• Whiz Kid's School
• Whiz Kid's Accomplishment
• Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness (what made him/her successful?)

If your nominee is selected, we'll contact you to set up an interview and photo. For questions, e-mail danield@patch.com.