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 Ashe County High School senior Lane Miller. He will attend Duke University this fall, and is the son of Melanie Miller, who is employed by LifeStore Bank in West Jefferson.
John Sullivan: You’ve accomplished a lot in your life already: salutatorian, 2023 Ashe County volunteer of the year. What are you most proud of?
Lane Miller: Giving back to the community. I believe in the power of giving back. And I plan to give back in some way for the rest of my life.
John Sullivan: If you could give your middle school self advice, what would it be?
Lane Miller: Take your time – don’t rush through everything. In 10th grade I was already putting pressure on myself about writing my college essay and doing well on the SAT. I learned not to always be in a hurry. I didn’t start working on my Duke application until September of my senior year and I got in. Take time to process and plan what you want to do.
John Sullivan: You plan to major in Public Policy with the goal of some day being an attorney. What drew you to Duke?
Lane Miller: The first time I visited campus I knew I was going there. At a lot of the top colleges the students are very competitive with each other, working against one another to get ahead. Duke is different. The students are very collaborative. If there’s a common task to accomplish, everybody works together to get it done. I like that.
John Sullivan: You’re very proud of being from western N.C. Why is that important to you?
Lane Miller: The people in rural Appalachia know each other very well – which can be challenging because news travels fast around here (laughing). At the same time, they have a level of compassion you’d have a hard time finding anywhere else. I’m proud of that.
John Sullivan: How do you relax?
Lane Miller: Listening to music, watching tv, traveling. I also like going to plays. Jagged Little Pill – a musical based on the Alanis Morrissette album – was really good. And I’ll always remember the night I saw Sweeney Todd in New York because that was the same night I found out I was accepted to Duke.
John Sullivan: Time for the rapid response round. Favorite color?
Lane Miller: Duke blue, of course.
John Sullivan: Best concert?
Lane Miller: Duke blue, of course.
John Sullivan: Favorite musical artist?
Lane Miller: Taylor Swift.
John Sullivan: Ok, I detect a theme here…favorite song?
Lane Miller: “I Look In People’s Windows.” It’s off her Tortured Poets Department album.
John Sullivan: Ok, I detect a theme here…favorite song?
Lane Miller: “I Look In People’s Windows.” It’s off her Tortured Poets Department album.
John Sullivan: What social media platform do you spend the most time on?
Lane Miller: Instagram.
John Sullivan: Which scares you the most, public speaking or going to the dentist?
Lane Miller: Not going to the dentist.
John Sullivan: Why’s that?
Lane Miller: Because I’ve never had a cavity!
John Sullivan: I have to ask, have you ever done anything wrong?
Lane Miller: Yes. In the eighth grade my parents took my phone away for having a bad attitude, but I grew out of that (laughing).
Author: sdbrownlow
Student of Design