Hello, and welcome to my self-titled Honors & Scholars e-portfolio.

To describe myself, I must begin by saying that I have gone by my proper name of Zachary for such an insignificant portion of my life that it almost feels weird to refer to myself by my own name. I’ve been given more nicknames in my lifetime than I can count, but, in the past several years, most of my friends, family, and work colleagues have all settled on one(ish): ZLock. The pronunciation has never been fully decided, as some will call me Z – Lock and others will say it as a single syllable work. In all facets of my life, this name has been what I answer to most, and I do not expect anyone to call me any differently unless they desire.

The most important tenet of who I am is my sense of humor and perceived carelessness in social situations. I pride myself on my ability to make people laugh and help those around me to have good time. I am not careless to the point of recklessness, but I do not let the worries and stresses of everyday life break through my demeanor. Someone even once told me I was the most likable heartless person they had ever met, and I was completely at a loss as to how to respond.

If you were to ask any of my peers from high school to describe me, they would provide a much different answer. Friends and classmates would tell you that I was a focused, dedicated, and straightforward person with a brilliant mind. The next part would start conflicting reports. Some of them would likely have told you about my musical exploits, how I was a leader and example in the marching band and a skilled player in the concert band, and how I had arranged a piece for our marching band in my senior year of high school. However, others would have been just as likely to mention my athletic activities, including: running the 3,200 meter race for Massillon track and field, running fun-run 5,000 meter races and half marathons in the summer, and leading our high school varsity bowling team.

If you were to ask me who I am, I would start by telling you that I am driven by demons, a brilliant and intelligent person, and someone who believes that they can do anything. From the creativity of music to the power of athletics and the cunning of intelligence, I strive to have an impeccable balance between these three facets of humanity, and am constantly pushing myself to become better in any given area. I am a hard worker and do not give in to peer pressure. I am willing to sacrifice any part of the process in order to reach my intended result.

So, who I am is just who I am. Just as we all are, I am unique. The best way to learn more about me is to simply spend time with me.

Thanks for reading!

Zachary P. Lockwood

“ZLock”