Multitasking second nature

AHS senior to graduate with International Baccalaureate

By David Pittman
david.pittman@amarillo.com

The evening before his big community service project, Tim Natividad was playing tennis in Dallas with the Amarillo High School tennis team.

Natividad had to orchestrate a three-band fundraising festival for fire-torn Advo Companies the next day.

He also had a big exam in a class that week, too.

Such is the life of Natividad, who splits time between excelling at varsity athletics, community service projects and academics.

Natividad is set to graduate seventh in his class May 31 with an International Baccalaureate diploma, an internationally recognized course of high school study with rigorous academic and community-service requirements.

Roughly 30 AHS students are enrolled in the program. The diploma requires 150 hours of community service.

Natividad didn't want to take the routine course of well-established volunteer programs. He organized a music festival for Advo, a nonprofit agency that provides services for adults with developmental disabilities.

An early morning fire engulfed the east side of the agency's building at 2736 W. 10th Ave. in October.

"Instead of volunteering at the hospital, I put on that show," Natividad said. "It seemed to make to more sense to do something."

The Sunday evening event at Sam Houston Park featured three bands, T-shirts, food and drinks.

Roughly 200 people - mostly fellow students - attended.

"I was so impressed with the amount of work he put into it," Amarillo High guidance counselor Lenette Kelly said.

"He didn't have any clue if he'd have one person come to this event or 500."

The event raised just under $2,000.

"I asked, did he need help," said mother Ruby Saulog, a local neurologist. "He said no."

Saulog said people he works out with at Gold's Gym gave him money after learning of his efforts.

Natividad's grand total to Advo: more than $2,200.

The 17-year-old, who will turn 18 on June 27, also tutors a set of triplets and has served food at Faith City Ministries.

Natividad also played four years of varsity tennis. This fall, he helped the Sandies achieve their highest state ranking ever - No. 12 - and earn their first trip to the regional tournament in team tennis.

With tennis, rigorous classes and community services, Natividad's high school career has been a lesson in time management.

"It's a lot of juggling," Natividad said. "I really do feel comfortable for next year."

Natividad sports a stellar 100.3 grade point average.

"He has academic honors in almost every subject you can imagine," Kelly said.

Natividad is off to Brown University, an Ivy League school, in Rhode Island in the fall.

Despite being the son of two physicians, Natividad has little interest in medical school.

"I'm not big into sciences and math," Tim said.

He listed humanities, international relations and journalism as possible majors.

Tim has "just got skills in so many different areas," Kelly said.

"We have great, great seniors at Amarillo High, but he has skills in so many different areas."

Editor's Note: The Amarillo Globe-News is profiling a student a day from May 9-29 as part of its 2008 graduation coverage. Students were nominated by Globe-News readers.