Pride rushed through nine-year-old Ada Praun-Petrovic (12) as she glanced at the numbers displayed on her father’s watch. She had just completed a three-mile-run, a huge milestone for young Ada. Soon after, motivated to start running on her own, Ada began to train daily to compete in a triathlon. Despite the challenges of the sport, running became a form of leisure that helped Ada reset herself and her mood after a long day of schoolwork.  

“I grew to really love running,” Ada said. “It has become one of the most fulfilling parts of my life. It makes me so much happier and less stressed every single day. It feels productive, but it’s also not intellectually difficult. If I’m mentally exhausted after a bunch of homework, I can switch to doing something that’s still productive but is also still a break.”

In ninth grade, Ada decided to run at a more competitive level and joined the upper school cross country team. Overcoming the mental and physical challenges of the sport as a community, the team helped her cultivate perseverance and endurance.

“I’ve met some of the people that I admire the most through cross country,” Ada said. “For example, it’s cool to look at some of the other people on the team who really squeeze every last drop of their energy throughout their races. To be able to train with these people and try to emulate them as well is also really cool.”

Ada finds motivation from not only her cross country teammates but also her Harker Robotics team as they prepare for First Robotics Competition (FRC). Working with a team is an integral part of robotics, especially in managing the multiple moving parts and subteams of over 60 members. Over the years, Ada has found joy in learning to amicably coordinate and cooperate with a large group of people.

“Learning to work with other people is really fun when you find the people that you click with,” Ada said. “It’s rewarding when you are able to work with everyone on the team, including the people you only really know in the workplace capacity and achieve something that everyone gets a lot of satisfaction out of.”

Taking on the leadership role of Outreach Director in her junior year and Operational President in her senior year, Ada has continued to cultivate her interpersonal skills through communicating with her peers and fostering an inclusive environment within the team. Close friend and robotics teammate Chiling Han (10) remembers how Ada helped her step out of her comfort zone during her first year of robotics. 

“I felt out of place at first, but Ada made me feel really comfortable,” Chiling said. “She has that inviting air about her. She’s a very lively and outgoing person and someone who really makes other people feel comfortable.”

Ada carries the lessons she learned from her peers forward, inspiring her surrounding community with her optimism and confidence. Ada’s cheerful disposition immediately struck close friend Ayla Apsey (12) when they first met in ninth grade. Through their four years of friendship, Ayla has seen Ada grow more conscientious and deeply cherishes the memories they have made together, especially in working together in their non-profit organization Change the End.

“She’s very selfless, and she cares a lot for the people she loves,” Ayla said. “She’s really blossomed throughout high school. She’s become a lot more conscientious and aware of her surroundings and is such a caring and giving person.” 

Upper school math teacher Gabriele Stahl, who taught Ada during her sophomore and senior years, observed her positive spirit and assurance throughout the two years. In her senior year, Stahl noticed Ada’s increased maturity as Ada often analyzed her points of strength as well as areas with room for improvement.

“One of her biggest strengths is her capability to reflect on herself,” Stahl said. “She is very focused and self-aware and also able to understand your own situation, and see, ‘What are you doing? How are you reacting? Where are your problems?’”

Ada’s ability to reflect on her experiences leads her to continual self-improvement. Her journey to embrace running taught her the importance of optimism in approaching obstacles, while robotics taught her the importance of communication and perspective. Together, these lessons taught Ada to develop a mindset that allows her to enjoy her life to the fullest and make the most of every experience. 

“Framing is really important,” Ada said. “You can take any situation and convince yourself whether you like something or hate it. Approaching things with a different attitude really, really changes what you take out of it. I try to be positive throughout anything that happens. The way I frame things that happen to me affects how satisfied I am with my life overall.”