Colin Sanders has never been in a hurry to define himself. When asked if he considers himself smart, he hesitates. When asked about his future, he offers possibilities instead of firm plans. But spend a few minutes talking with him, and it becomes clear that beneath the dry humor and self-deprecating comments is a thoughtful student who has grown steadily during his years at Benton Grade School.

Colin has been part of the Benton school community since pre-kindergarten. He has lived in Benton his entire life and now prepares to leave the only school building he has ever known to attend Benton Consolidated High School in August.

He lives with his mom, dad, and his younger sister, Kat, who is in fifth grade. Colin speaks about her with a mixture of humor and sincerity, explaining that one of his proudest accomplishments is maintaining a good relationship with her. “I guess one of my greatest achievements is that I have a good sibling relationship with her,” he said, recognizing that strong family bonds matter.

Academically, Colin has been on the honor roll every year it has been available to him. Even so, he resists labeling himself as naturally smart. “I don’t like to label myself as smart,” he explained, noting that sometimes he earns a bad grade or gives what he calls a “dumb answer.” He holds himself to high standards, perhaps higher than necessary. When told that smart people learn from mistakes, he nodded thoughtfully, admitting he had probably heard that advice before—but sometimes forgets it.

Reading is his favorite subject, and his love for books stands out immediately. He gravitates toward fiction and fantasy, often working his way through long series. In class, he appreciates that assignments feel more challenging this year, and he values having a wide selection of books to choose from. He enjoyed reading novels like Elephant Run, which explores lesser-known aspects of World War II, and he appreciates that his teacher switches things up to keep the material fresh.

While reading is his favorite class, Colin also takes advanced math. He described math as occasionally relaxing when solving simple equations but frustrating when the answer won’t come together. That balance between satisfaction and challenge seems to suit him.

Outside the classroom, Colin describes himself as more of an indoor person. He enjoys reading and playing video games, including Minecraft and a newer favorite, Portal. He prefers games that are more linear rather than sprawling open-world adventures. “I don’t really like open-world things,” he said. “I like it more linear.” That preference mirrors his personality in some ways—he likes structure and clarity.

As high school approaches, Colin admits to feeling nervous. He knows some students who will attend but is aware that larger groups can bring uncertainty. Still, he is also curious and even excited about certain aspects of the transition. In a moment that perfectly captures his personality, he confessed that one thing he’s genuinely looking forward to is the stairs in the high school building. “I like more stairs,” he said with a grin, explaining that he enjoys elevated spaces and variation. It may sound unusual, but it reflects his willingness to notice small details others overlook.

Looking further ahead, Colin has long imagined becoming a scientist. As a younger child, he liked the idea of “mixing chemicals” and discovering new things. Now, he understands that science is more complex than that, but the interest remains. Recently, someone suggested he might even make a good professor one day. At first, he dismissed the idea, but after thinking it through, he admitted that perhaps teaching at the college level could be an option.

For now, his plan is practical. He has considered starting at Rend Lake College before transferring to Southern Illinois University Carbondale, following advice given to him and his sister about building a strong foundation before moving on to advanced coursework.

When asked what advice he would offer to families and younger students, Colin answered carefully. He encouraged parents to always help their children and reminded students to try hard and never give up. “I’ve given up a lot,” he admitted honestly, “but I always end up coming back to the same thing.” Even when something feels out of his control, he keeps trying until he knows he has done all he can.