By Jack Davis ’19
THE ROUNDUP

Can I please get your full name and year?

My name is Payton Rutkowski and I am in 10th grade.

So what’s the biggest thing that you do outside of school?

I would say hanging out with my friends, or having to go to work everyday after school.

Where do you work and what do you do?

I work for Denise Decker, she runs a gymnastics organization that teaches elementary kids from grades kindergarten to fifth all the tricks and skills of a gymnast. I am a teacher at work and I get to spot and train the kids on every activity they do. And I teach at Hopi Elementary School, Kiva Elementary and Biltmore Prep.

How did you get started with gymnastics?

i really haven’t been all into gymnastics, Denise Decker taught my brothers at a young age and I took a few classes, but I actually grew up and did competitive dancing as my main passion. But, being a dancer I knew a few things about gymnastics so when I started working for Denise, I knew the basics and was a quick learner to becoming an instructor.

Interesting. So, not a lot of high schoolers teach. How did you get into that?

Well, I’ve been very independent growing up and always wanted to be a leader in a way, and I think I enjoy kind of being in charge. But, I actually had a friend recommend me to Denise Decker, she thought I’d be great for the job, and now I am very happy with teaching little kids.

Could you see yourself teaching as a career? If not, what field would you want to go into?

I don’t think I see myself teaching as a career, though I love it and have much respect to teachers, I’m really interested in sports broadcasting. I love football, and think it’d be awesome to be the one interviewing the players after the game, or provide coverage about the game on TV.

Do you like watching college football or the NFL more? Who’s your favorite team?

I definitely like college football because I go to the ASU games, even though they aren’t the greatest this year. But, I’d say I like the NFL more. One of my favorite teams is the Denver Broncos. Wide receiver Demaryius Thomas is one of my favorite players.

That’s awesome. Who’s your best friend and why?

Oh geez, I don’t know if I could pick just one best friend, I have so many. So my list of best friends is Cici O’Connell ’19, Aneesa Daas ’19, Calista Kistler ’19, Bobbie Adelson ’19, Madelyn Hook ’19, Catherine Kempton ’19, Elyse Stark ’19 and Olivia Goldberg ’19. They’re all my best friends because they love and support me and I always have fun with them.

What’s your favorite cereal?

I actually don’t like cereal! I don’t like how the milk makes it so soggy. But, if I had to eat it dry, I’d eat Frosted Flakes or Cinnamon Toast Crunch.

Cinnamon Toast Crunch is and will always be the best cereal. What’s your least favorite subject in school?

MATH. I’ve always been bad and math and will never get better. Geometry this year isn’t as bad as Algebra I last year, but I’m so scared for Algebra II next year.

What’s your dream college?

Oh gosh, I don’t know if I have one because there are so many great ones. But, if I had to choose one, possibly NYU. But that’s a dream.

What’s the worst movie you’ve ever bought a ticket to?

“Annabelle.” I hate horror movies.

Me too. They’re awful.