Joseph Britt

1. How did you feel when you heard that you were the finalist for the National Merit Scholarship?

I was excited to hear that I had advanced to the next level. It was fun to tell my story and be able to progress in the competition.

2. What are some characteristics you believe helped you achieve this award?

I believe my curiosity, perseverance and community involvement were big factors in achieving this award. I’m driven by a desire to explore and learn new things, and I love giving back to my community with what I’ve learned throughout my journey.

3. What is your academic area of passion and why?

My academic area of passion is computer science. I fell in love with programming after taking AP Computer Science because it all felt like a challenging puzzle I got to solve.

4. What are you planning to pursue in college?

I plan to major in Computer Science and pursue an additional minor(s) depending on my school. I’m also excited to explore my interests in robotics and game development/design through student organizations, classes and research.

5. Do you know where you are going to college?

I haven’t solidified my decision yet. I’m down to a few options, but I’m still researching and touring to figure out which school is the right fit for me.

6. What did you choose to write about in your main essay for the National Merit application? And why was it meaningful to you?

I chose to write about my experiences on the robotics team. I told the story of the obstacles we faced and our successes at the 2021 VEX Robotics World Championship as Division Champions and Excellence Award recipients.