Whiz Kid of the Week: Gussie Roc

Name: Gussie Roc

Age: 16

School: Saint Ann's School

Accomplishments: A published writer, Roc has been piling up medals from the National Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, who last year named her one of the Best Teen Writers of 2010. She also self-publishes a weekly newsletter called the Gussie Gazette, which she started at eights years old! She was also honored with a "Golden Gavel" award at the Model Congress in Washington D.C. An accomplished musician, Roc studies violin and viola each summer at the prestigious Interlochen Arts Camp. Her charity work includes fundraising for Ubuntu Education Fund, an organization that raises money for South African children who have lost their parents to AIDS.

Key to Awesomeness: Roc, who seems already to have a profound understanding of the diverse qualities needed to succeed, attributes her achievements to her discipline, curiosity and willingness to try new or daunting tasks.

"Conquering my fears has been an essential skill for me. Going to an audition or making a speech in debate class can sometimes be intimidating, but I know that I can never let fear keep me from reaching a goal that I have or doing what I love," Roc said.

Roc isn't just focused on her self however. "I've learned that it is important to be community-minded and to constantly contribute to other people as well as let other people contribute to me," she said.

And she's got big plans for the future. "I've always had a desire to do meaningful work as an adult that would change my community for the better and positively affect the people that surround me." Sounds like we'll be hearing more from her down the road.