Ross Gerckens is involved in marching band, pep band, 4-H club, and was on the e-sports team back when Alder had one. He plans on going to Otterbein University to study psychology.

Q: What’s your favorite memory of your time at Alder?

A: There was a time when the cymbalist before me, Logan, and I played patty cake for a song in performance with our cymbals.

Q: What are three things you can’t live without?

A: I’m very faithful, so probably, you know, like Jesus. The obvious other answers are food and water, but that’s lame. Let’s go with, like.. I like playing games, and I like my friends.

Q: What’s one thing people don’t know about you?

A: I took fencing lessons for a little while, so I can sword fight.

Q: How would you define yourself in three words?

A: I think, like, fun, because I try to always be fun and music, because I’m a big music man. It’s what they called me back in high school, and, I don’t know, friends. Again, I just really like my friends. I like hanging out with them.

Q: What is the best piece of advice you’ve received?

A: My mother always told me that, in regards to looking for a job, don’t be bored.

Q: If you made a documentary, what would it be about and why?

A:  Honestly, what I would make a documentary about would be about high school in general. Because high school, there’s like, you know, there’s two kinds of adults when you’re talking about high school. There’s adults that hated it, and adults that peaked in it. And I think that, like, there’s a fine separation there.

Q: What is the last piece of content you consumed that made you cry?

A: Probably something religion-related. I don’t really remember exactly. Something Christian.

Q: What is a song you can listen to on repeat?

A: “Run” by One Republic.

Q: If you could switch lives with someone for a day, who would it be?

A: I’d swap places with, like, some world leader and try to, like, fix something, you know?

Q: What is your dream place to visit?

A: I hear Japan’s pretty cool. I like Japanese architecture and music. I think they have cool culture

Q: What’s the biggest surprise you’ve had?

A: So when I was leaving eighth grade and going into freshman year, I actually wasn’t sure if I wanted to join the marching band or not. because I was like, well, it looks like so much work, and I don’t.. get to play mallets for the marching season. It just seems so stressful. And I decided to end up doing it anyway. And then I was surprised at how much fun I had and like how good of a place it was.

Q: What 3 people living or dead would you like to make dinner for?

A: Probably like Beth and then like the apostle Peter would be cool, and the apostle Paul.

Q: What was the most adventurous thing you’ve done in your life?

A: My freshman year, when I went to Disney World, was like, my first time being like, multiple states away from home, you know? And I was a little nervous in the beginning, and it ended up being like, one of the best times of my life.

Q: What would you like to be remembered for?

A:  I want to be remembered as the guy who helped make stuff fun.