by Emma M.
Ever since her little brother was born, 7th grader Aubri S. has been fascinated with premature babies. Now, about one year later she still pursues the path to earn her degree as a neonatologist, specifically at Pepperdine University in Malibu.
Now you’re probably asking, “Hey! What in the world is a neonatologist?.” A licensed neonatologist mostly diagnoses premature babies with breathing disorders, infections, or serious conditions of any sort. They also medically manage newborn babies born early, in need of surgery, or that are really sick.
Aubri’s brother, Beckham, was born two months early. She says that he was in the NICU for a while. While in the NICU, Beckham was held by the doctors. She thinks it would be cool to be able to hold the premature babies and learn about basically tiny versions of us.
While I asked Aubri questions in a loud and obnoxious English classroom, she listened carefully and answered each question thoughtfully. Well, as well as she could. I could tell when she answered she loved to focus by playing with her long brown hair with blonde highlights and chewing her polar-ice flavored gum.
Although Aubri wants to pursue a career as a neonatologist, she still loves dance, spending time with her friends, baking and sports, specifically volleyball and throwing the football with her friends during lunch. Although she has only been attending RCMS for a little over a year she has many friends that love hanging out with her.
She started dancing at the age of 2 and competing at the age of 5, she has been a dancer for 10 years! She says, “When I was younger my role model was Jenifer Lopez, she is the one who got me into dancing.” “I remember me saying that I wanted to grow up and be just like JLo” she laughs recalling it.
When asked if she enjoyed volleyball more than dance she answers, “I prefer to play volleyball because it requires more yelling and interaction and just overall more enjoyable,” which makes sense. Dance is more planned out for you and you don’t have room to make quick on the spot decisions that could potentially ruin your game or win it for you and your team.
When she was stuck home during the pandemic she loved to bake and cook, her favorite things to bake are cupcakes and cookies. She also loves to play with her brother, she says “I love to play basketball with Beckham because its really funny how he shoots the ball,” she laughed.
Overall, Aubri is just an athlete, period. She is amazing at everything she does even if she has never tried it. She is very kind and out-going to everybody she meets, and is very patient. If you ever see her playing any sport whether it be throwing the football or on the volleyball court you can just tell she is a pro at whatever she is doing.