David Kuiken is a 17-year-old student at Hanover Central. He lives with his 2 older siblings and his mom in Cedar Lake. He moved here from St. John in 2021, when he was a freshman. Since it was a brand new school, and he didn’t know anyone yet, he decided that he was going to play a sport to get to know some people. He decided he was going to play football. He plays as an outside linebacker and a wide receiver. Even though he only started playing to make some new friends, he very quickly started to enjoy the sport. As an athlete, David believes one of his biggest strengths is that he is open to criticism. He thinks that criticism is just more opportunity to grow and improve. One of the biggest lessons he learned while playing was to work as a team. David’s biggest role model is his mom. As he says, “I look up to her a lot and have a lot of respect for her, because she took care of 3 kids by herself.” His top priorities right now are his family, his friends, football, figuring out college, and his education. Academically, David is a good student as well. His grades consist of mostly A’s and B’s. His favorite class is current world problems. He said this is because of the teacher, Mr. Govert. While leaving Hanover to pursue his career, he won’t forget about all the memories and friends he’s made here. One memory he especially won't forget is Friday Night Lights. As he said, “The atmosphere and the energy is like nothing else, it’s special.” After high school, David plans on going to college at Indiana University in Bloomington, although another option would be to stay local and go to Purdue Northwest. He would study either psychology or criminology. He’s always been somewhat interested in these fields and thinks that it’s a right fit for him. With the diploma he’s going for, he wants to pursue his career and become a psychologist. In ten years he hopes to have a good paying job, to be married with a good stable income, and have a nice house. In conclusion David’s time at Hanover Central has been defined by his determination to succeed both on and off the field. The challenges he’s faced, academically and athletically, show his resilience and strong character. As he moves ahead to college and his future in psychology or criminology, David’s commitment to his goals and his family will guide him toward a bright and fulfilling future. Story by: Michael Uzelac