A&E Editor and Staff Writer
Many people have generic hobbies like sports, art, or music. However, others choose to follow the path less traveled and pursue less conventional dreams. The following Apex students have uncommon interests:
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Hobby: James Bond impersonating
Gabe DeCaro, valedictorian of the class of 2013, carries a deep secret. He impersonates Agent 007 on the side (outside of school, that is). “I was born to be Bond. All you need is a suit, a pistol, and an imagination,” he said. DeCaro often finds himself practicing different signature Bond moves, such as the Roll-and-Shoot. To those wishing to follow in his (or Bond’s) footsteps, DeCaro advised them to, “Get a suit. If you want to be awesome, be a James Bond impersonator.” DeCaro has not yet informed friends of his hobby, but he expects the public to be surprised. He said, “Hopefully your jimmies are shaken, not stirred.”
Hobby: Ancient coin collecting
Bryan Kohn has always been interested in history. As a result, in August of 2012 he began collecting ancient Roman coins. Kohn’s coin ages range greatly. “My youngest coin is from 395 A.D. of Arcadius, made out of copper, and my oldest is called a Quadran, which is from 9 B.C. from Augustus Caesar’s reign. It’s made out of bronze,” he said. Kohn enjoys enlightening others about ancient Rome. “Most people have never seen Roman coins, and most don’t know a lot about Rome in general,” he said. Additionally, Kohn buys and sells coins on Ebay, and his store has a five-star rating. You can find his store at this URL: http://myworld.ebay.com/juniorhistory?_trksid=p2047675.l2559
Name: Corey Robert Miller, senior
Hobby: Knife/axe throwing
Seniors face a lot of pressure with college right around the corner, so Corey Miller has found his own stress relief outlet – knife and axe throwing. “I’ve thrown spikes, stars, axes and knives,” he said. Miller has been throwing weapons for two years and owns six axes, four of which are tomahawks. As far as practical use, Miller said, “I can cut stuff from far away. If [the zombie apocalypse] happens, I have axes.”
Name: Katie Sholtis, senior
Hobby: Irish dancing
Although many high school students dance, Katie Sholtis has taken a different approach. Sholtis has been participating in Irish dance for 13 years. During that time, she has competed in two national and eight regional Irish dance championships. “I always loved it and never wanted to change. It’s a part of me,” she said. These competitions include traditional Irish costumes, and involve wigs, elaborate dresses, poodle socks, shoes, and dramatic makeup. Sholtis’ family is from Ireland, and her grandparents support her dance.
Name: Jack Stiles
Hobby: Parkour
Senior Jack Stiles spends his free time participating in the new-age sport parkour. Dictionary.com defines parkour as “the sport or activity of running through urban areas while performing various gymnastic maneuvers over or on man-made obstacles such as walls and buildings,” which can be a difficult hobby for beginners. “Don’t do it to impress people – because it’s not impressive when you start. When you can do flips, then it’s cool,” Stiles said. He jumps fences and often free-climbs buildings. “To me, parkour is the purest form of expression, the only limitation being your physical self,” he said.
