Hard work pays off
By Brian D. Bridgeford
Academic studies don't come naturally to Baraboo High School senior Nathan Bergs, but due to his hard work he will graduate tonight with good grades, Principal Machell Schwarz said. And perhaps more importantly, his positive attitude and willingness to help others has contributed a lot to making a good school atmosphere, she said Thursday. "He's a student who has worked very, very hard," Schwarz said. "He has just struck me as one of the students who has always worked hard no matter what. He's done very well in his classes," she said. Around the school, Bergs is a leader. That is particularly true in track and cross country, Schwarz said. "In cross country, he's always been the No. 1 runner for the team all year long," she said. "You always saw him encouraging his teammates and other members of the group." "He always greets everybody that he sees," Schwarz said. "He's always friendly and very positive, just a great influence on the building." Bergs has a friendly manner as he greets a visitor at the 10th Street home where he lives with his parents, Sue and Tim Berg. His sister, Jenny, is studying at Lawrence University in Appleton and brother, Dan, at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Bergs says he is not a natural student, and finds subjects such as math particularly difficult. However, he said he tries to keep in close communication with teachers, and with hard work, that has helped him complete school with a high B average. "I accomplished stuff because I really had to work at it, doing a lot of studying and doing a lot of extra stuff to help me get through the classes," he said. Phy-ed and social studies were his favorite classes. The social studies classes and successful studies in Spanish class complement family trips to places like Costa Rica, Mexico and the Dominican Republic. "It is always fun to learn about different countries," he said. "He was really helpful this past winter in Costa Rica, he really knew his vocabulary," his mother said. Nathan said he enjoys helping others by raking leaves for senior citizens with fellow members of Key Club, a student organization allied with Baraboo Kiwanis. "I thought it was a great thing to do for the community," he said. "There are some people who can't do that kind of stuff, and they just want to have someone to help them." Nathan said he also like to help out at the family's congregation, St. Joseph Catholic Church. When the church holds fish fries, Nathan is in the back of the kitchen washing the dishes, Sue said. Nathan said he is interested in physical education. This year he did a co-op study with the Baraboo Parks and Recreation Department and enjoyed teaching fitness to local seniors. "I was kind of an assistant to one of the fitness instructors," he said. "As I moved along I started teaching some." Next year, he starts a college-transfer program at Madison Area Technical College. After completing his first two years of education there, Bergs said he will head on to the UW-Whitewater to complete a degree in physical education. After completing his degree, Nathan said he wants to get a job doing physical education with the public. Nathan is a student who makes working at BHS easier, Schwarz said. "He's always one that is giving help to other kids and helping out in the building any way he can," she said. Tonight his accomplishments will be recognized, along with his fellow classmates, as they cross the stage to get their diplomas. The ceremony is at 8 p.m. in the school gym.