By using her excellence to succeed in various challenges, Isabel Furlong is a driven and motivated young achiever. Even though she has only lived in Hot Springs for four years, Isabel is an active member of the community within her school and extracurriculars. She has set her future on artistic appreciation and expression as a musician and student who finds interest in cultural exploration. Living with her mother and four other siblings, she is taught daily the importance of individual talents and carrying on the family legacy of absorbing the world around her. Isabel Furlong impresses her family and teachers daily with her hard work and achievements, while still striving to complete her future goals. 

    

 A defining characteristic of Isabel is her dedication to the musical arts, spending hours a week practicing. Throughout her life, Isabel has played a variety of musical instruments. Currently, she spends her weekends in Little Rock for cello lessons. Music has taught Isabel the importance of never giving up, even if she isn’t able to perfect something. She says that there have been multiple experiences where accepting failure has seemed impossible, but learning to use it as a way to grow and better herself has strengthened her discipline and perseverance. Even when she becomes discouraged after losing a competition or even struggling with a piece, she continues to push herself and become better through practice. These skills have given Isabel other strengths in her personal and school life, teaching her important factors to success. 

Aside from music, Isabel partook in horseback riding as a child. She says that like music, this childhood sport taught her the importance of getting back up on her feet after failing. She was able to learn trust and judgment skills, giving her the power of not letting fear get in her way of moving forward. She also took ice skating with her two older sisters, a sport which gave her a stronger bond with her family and brought them together. Ice skating was a way for her to practice teamwork with her sisters and engage in another artistic form of expression. Isabel claims that she used to be shy and timid when she was younger, but participating in these activities helped her to build confidence and shine as her true self. 

 Another hobby that Isabel has is her love for exploring different languages and cultures. Growing up, she was constantly given opportunities to travel and experience other countries across the world. Her mother, Teresa Furlong, lived her college years in Europe which encouraged her to teach her children the language and culture. Isabel took Italian language lessons at a young age, even listening to operas which connected to her love for music. Her family raised her and her siblings through multiple different historical activities, constantly visiting museums and taking the time to discover appreciation for other areas of the world. Now, Isabel has been accepted into a program that will allow her to travel to and learn about Japan. Initially learning about this opportunity excited her, because she knew her mother would be proud to learn that she was continuing her legacy of exploring and traveling. The process of application for the trip was challenging, involving many steps and obstacles where she had to prove her dedication and commitment. However, she without doubt secured a spot in the program and is now excited for the journey ahead with her accompanying peers. 

In her free time, she enjoys relaxation through reading, cooking, spending time with family, and sewing. All of these are activities that seem productive while at the same time, letting her unwind after a long day when she needs a break. Cooking allows her to taste different cultures and experiment with cuisines to bring her family closer together in the kitchen. She finds sewing as both an entertaining and helpful skill that she is able to use in situations where she needs to repair something. Reading is a way for her to naturally learn and pick up on new concepts. Even though she is busy, she knows the importance of organization and time management, which includes letting herself take small breaks to recollect and recharge. Balancing different activities as a teenager can be challenging, but her parents have always encouraged her to try her best. Her mother inspires her with her dedication and support, being an important role model in her life. It is unquestionable to state that as a young achiever, Isabel has a bright future ahead of herself.