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Matt Coen - Student Spotlight 2014

Apr 30, 2014 11:22AM ● By Style

Matt Coen – Photo by Dante Fontana © Style Media Group

Matt Coen

El Dorado High School

Tell us about yourself.

I was born in South Florida and moved to Northern California when I was four years old. I’m half Italian and really appreciate good food. I’m a typical Italian epicurean: I indulge in gourmet pasta, bread and pizza. As a lifelong swimmer, my appetite alone has kept my mom pretty busy in the kitchen. I learned to tread water when I was  18 months old, and I’ve been a competitive swimmer since I was five. I trained as a year-round swimmer throughout high school, swimming at the crack of dawn before school and then again after school as the sun was setting. This monotonous yet rigorous regime has only been interrupted because of injuries or broken bones from skiing, wakeboarding and wake surfing.

What accomplishment are you most proud of and why?

I’m mostly proud of keeping my focus on academics throughout high school. Balancing school, sports, music, family obligations and community service was both challenging and rewarding. I learned to manage my time so that I could still leave time for fun, relaxation and friends.

What’s one thing that not many people know about you?

Not many people know that I’m a “band geek.” I’ve been playing alto sax since fifth grade and have been in concert band and marching band throughout high school. Most people also don’t know that I’ve been an altar server at Saint Patrick’s Church for years, or that my cat sleeps with me every night and hangs out with me whenever I’m home.

What are your plans after graduation?

Presently, I’m not sure which specific university or academy I will attend, but I am certain that the most fulfilling path for me will be a career of service. I’m considering careers in aviation, medicine and business.

Who is your role model?

My older brother, Andrew, is my number one role model and my best friend. We share many similar interests, opinions and goals. Throughout our lives, we have motivated, challenged and supported each other as we continually strive for excellence in and outside of school. I look up to him not only because of his admirable accomplishments, but also because of the remarkable and humble person that he is.