For many students, the difficulties of juggling school, homework, sports and a social life seem impossible. However Matthew Andreatta, ’09, balances attending two different schools, plays forward on the varsity basketball team on campus and earning a 4.0 grade point average.

Not only does Andreatta come to this school for the first four periods, but he also leaves at lunch to go to the Center for Advanced Research and Technology (CART) from 12:30-3:30 P.M. everyday, then comes back for basketball practice from 3:45-7 P.M. From there he goes home and works on homework until 10 P.M.

?I?m going to CART because I want to be an orthopedic surgeon, specializing in sports medicine,? Andreatta said. ?It?s a specialized school so I can take a biomedicine class, which is perfect. Also, they have a lot of connections with colleges. I would like to go to either USC, UC Davis or enter an honors program and transfer later.?

David McEntee, campus chemistry teacher, believes Andreatta maintains potential to succeed at medical school.

?Matthew is a great kid and a good student,? McEntee said, ?and if he is serious he does exceptionally well.?

Apart from taking all the classes on campus, Andreatta is also taking English, anatomy physiology, technology and terminology at CART.

?It was difficult at first leaving for CART everyday,? Andreatta said, ?but once I got used to the commute it wasn?t so bad.?

Although this change has been difficult for Andreatta, it has also been a challenge for his friends as well.

?It?s so weird not having Matt here all day,? Shane Darakjian, ?09, said, ?but I understand why he?s doing it.?

While his schedule may appear overcrowded, Andreatta also maintains a day-job and participates in athletics. He plays center for basketball, trains in boxing and works as a janitor at Marlin and Tony?s Auto Repair. He also finds time to hang out with friends on weekends.

?I love going to CART because I?ve been coming to Fresno Christian since kindergarten, so it?s nice going somewhere different and having a change of environment,? Andreatta said. ?It?s just so much different from Fresno Christian because they don?t talk about God at all. There are also more hands-on projects and there?s a more diverse group of people there. It has been really difficult getting straight A?s, but it?s so worth it.?