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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Engaged in life

Last summer, Adam Membrey wrote a screenplay about the unrequited love between a 50-something male math professor and a female ethics professor.

In the script, the distraught professor tries to figure out how to make the relationship work by analyzing it as an algebraic equation. The professor believes that every problem has a solution, but in the end, he discovers that life and love are much too complicated for that.

Membrey, a Mt. Spokane High School senior, said he is able to envision an entire movie in his head. He has had to rely on his visualization skills. When he was 4, he had meningitis and lost his hearing.

But Membrey, 18, has never allowed his lack of hearing to slow him down. He is proficient at reading lips and has had a translator with him throughout his school years. Before Mt. Spokane High School, he attended Colbert Elementary and Mead Middle School.

“I’ve been blessed to have some of the best teachers. They’re all great for different reasons. They’ve made me a better student, a better person. They were always there to help,” said Membrey.

He plays defense on the varsity soccer team, plays the trumpet and guitar, has been active in student government, St. Francis Xavier’s youth group, and he will graduate with a 3.9 grade-point average.

In the fall he’ll attend Gonzaga University, where he’ll study English and writing. “I love writing, knowing I can pick up a pen or sit at a computer and write something like no one else; to be able to tell a story in my own way,” said Membrey.

Although writing is his first love, he’s always been interested in politics and government.

Last fall, he was chosen as a representative for the U.S. Senate Youth Program and received an all-expenses paid trip to Washington, D.C., in February, along with a $5,000 scholarship.

While there, he met President Bush, whom he described as “more human in person,” and several senators and military officers.

He was most impressed by the other student delegates from across the country. He said he was a little intimidated at first, but as the week went on he became more comfortable.

“They are the future of America. Many of them will go on to Harvard and Stanford. No one asked if you were a Republican or Democrat,” said Membrey, who describes himself as a pro-life, liberal Democrat.

Membrey was selected by his fellow delegates to give the closing speech at the conference. In his speech, he talked about how important it is to get to know people first and not make judgments, whether in politics, or in life in general.

He quoted Gandhi, saying, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” If you want to see more tolerance, then be more tolerant. He received a standing ovation.

Membrey, a devout Catholic, sees himself working in government one day, but not until after his children are raised. He wouldn’t want to compromise his time with his family.

He doesn’t have a girlfriend right now, but he’s figured out that at Gonzaga there are 6,000 students, roughly 3,000 females and probably half of them, or 1,500 are Catholic, meaning his odds are pretty good of finding someone.

“Math can’t solve everything, but it can give you hope.”