“There is a difference between being smart and testing well. Ryder does both,” said proud father and Hastings High English teacher Greg Mays.
Senior Ryder Mays is a quiet kid who most people don’t know much about, but everyone who has ever taken a class with him knows one thing about him — he’s kind of smart.
Ryder is the ideal student, being involved in a variety of activities including football, track, speech, National Honor Society, Freshmen Mentoring Program, Future Problem Solvers, Quiz Bowl and the math team. Oh yeah — he’s also tied for first in his class and got a perfect 36 on the ACT.
Ryder’s mother and HHS history teacher Ann Mays believes that to score well on these types of tests, one must read frequently. Every section of the ACT includes reading, so the faster someone can read, the more time he will have to answer questions.
On his first attempt at the standardized test, Ryder was shocked by his results when he found out he scored a 35.
“I didn’t plan on taking the test again because a 35 is a really good score that I was happy with, but we were required to take the school wide test in March, so I took it. I came out of the second test confident that I did better than the first time,” Ryder said.
He was right. Since getting his results back on the school wide ACT last March, Ryder has gone on three different trips, visiting a total of eight schools including four in the Ivy League. He has received an abundance of attention from fellow students and Hastings citizens, even news reporters. News 5 and the Hastings Tribune each did a story on Ryder’s perfect score.
The question Ryder has heard hundreds of times since acing his ACT remains unanswered. He has not narrowed down his decision on a school following his eight visits, but he does plan to attend an out of state college to pursue his dream of becoming an author.
“I know it will be difficult to leave all of my family and friends, but I also feel like I’m ready to begin my own journey elsewhere,” Ryder said in regards to his big decision.
“It’s such a rare opportunity that I would hate to see him not go just to stay close to home. I think he should go to college where he wants, but I think I will be in denial until the day actually comes,” Ann said.
Greg also wants to see Ryder go to the college of his choice, but talks about it from a parent’s point of view.
“I don’t know how to explain to your readers how traumatic children leaving is, even when there are times when you want them to go away. The whole idea of them going out and being human beings is very disconcerting to a parent,” Greg said.
As his parents attempt to put the thought of their son leaving to the back of their minds, they are excited to see what journey Ryder decides to embark on.
