Be an NCBA Star Student – Get Good Grades, Get Involved, Give Back
The NC Bankers Association is debuting a new feature called Star Student Profile. Each month we will highlight a student who won, or was a finalist for the NC Bankers Association Foundation college tuition scholarship.
This month the NCBA’s John Sullivan, Senior Director of the Future Bank Leaders Program, spoke with New Hanover High School senior Anna Holt Basinger. She will atttend the University of Virginia this fall, and is the daughter of Andy Basinger, Managing Director/Head of Live Oak Private Wealth in Wilmington.
John Sullivan: You’ve accomplished a lot in your life already: varsity athlete, valedictorian, volunteer. What are you most proud of?
Anna Holt Basinger: Tutoring a teenage girl from Ukraine. She’s learning english as a second language. We’ve been working together for almost three years – even before the war with Russia. It can be challenging, especially doing it by Zoom, but it’s also so rewarding because I’m doing something that helps someone else.
JS: If you could give your middle school self advice, what would it be?
AHB: Stress less, relax more. Everything works out the way it’s supposed to.
JS: As you look ahead to attending UVA this fall, what motivates you the most?
AHB: Making my parents and siblings proud. They are high achievers and I look up to them. It’s not competitive. They are very supportive. They are a huge inspiration.
JS: You plan to major in economics and someday have a career in marketing, but if you could only choose one, which of these would you become: an astronaut, President of the United States, school teacher or professional tennis player?
AHB: That’s tough because each has its pros and cons. Not astronaut – I’d get too claustrophobic in a spaceship (laughing). I’ll go with President because I’d have the voice and power to create positive change.
JS: If you could change one thing in our country right now, what would it be?
AHB: I don’t have the solution, but we’re a very divided nation. Opinions are so fragmented, it’s creating a lot of tension.
JS: Time for the Rapid Response Round. Favorite color?
AHB: Blue
JS: Lucky number?
AHB: Three, because when I was in elementary school they put my name and a three on everything, and that’s been my lucky number ever since.
JS: What social media platform do you spend the most time on?
AHB: Instagram reels. I have a lot of friends that send me a lot of videos (laughing).
JS: Cat or dog?
AHB: Dog
JS: Beach or mountains?
AHB: Beach
JS: Read a story or write a story?
AHB: Write a story
JS: New York City or Los Angeles?
AHB: New York
JS: Which scares you the most, public speaking or going to the dentist?
AHB: Well, it better not be going to the dentist.
JS: Why?
AHB: Because my mom’s a dentist!! (laughing)