Golf, piano and the Harry Potter book series hold a special place in the success of Nederland High School senior Avery LeBlanc.

Golf’s analytical requirements combined with the skills of a disciplined musician and the values of good triumphing over evil and that love conquers all has helped LeBlanc, 18, lay the foundation for his future.

LeBlanc, who plans to major in English to become an English teacher, works with the First Tee.

“The First Tee teaches kids how to play golf and how the fundamentals are in direct correlation to life,” LeBlanc, who started playing the game in first grade, said. “Integrity, respect, honor, those are some of the core values.”

LeBlanc is ranked No. 2 in his class, is student body president, the winner of the NHS Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen award and is peer tutor at C.O. Wilson Middle School.

LeBlanc was introduced to piano in the first grade. He took lessons from Dottie Youngblood of First Baptist Church Nederland for 11 years and is now taking lessons from instructor Jacob Clark at Lamar University. He is currently preparing for University Interscholastic League Solo and Ensemble contest.

“Music is such a big part of my life. It shows me how to think and addresses problems,” he said. “You have to be disciplined, it’s almost like reading another language.”

Studies have shown students who actively take part in music education score higher on tests and have larger vocabularies than non-musical students.

“I try to practice every day as a break from homework,” he said. “That way I’m doing something I enjoy and still being productive.”

But it’s J.K. Rowling’s series about a boy wizard named Harry Potter that struck a chord with Leblanc. His mother, Samantha LeBlanc introduced the series to him as a bedtime story when he was a young child.

“She would read a chapter every night,” he said. “It taught me to appreciate literature and I always remember loving it.”

When he was younger LeBlanc read the books for accelerated reader points, diving into each book and experiencing the wizarding world. His goal is to reread the series and pick up on things he may have missed such as various connections between characters and events.

LeBlanc looked to the character Hermoine Granger in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. The title character was speaking to the studious Hermoine on her intelligence and skills to which she answered “Books! And cleverness! There are more important things — friendship and bravery.”

“They (book series) really taught me the values I prioritize. Love conquers all. Power is not everything,” he said referring to the book’s villain Voldemort. “The books show was important, it teaches acceptance of those who are different. It’s really not that different from today.”

Reading and understanding literature is something LeBlanc wants to pass on to others. He’s excited to be around when the Harry Potter books were released, as he was able to experience literature in a historical context.

“I think that’s why we learn literature. What can we learn from books? If J.K. Rowling can make that change, maybe I can hook a kid on Harry Potter and reading,” he said.

Teaching has always been on LeBlanc’s mind; he is a peer tutor at C.O. Wilson Middle School and has been an aide for the past three years during summer school.

“In every job you must be able to read and write, even an engineer,” he said. “It’s the foundation every student needs as well as teaching critical thinking. You have to be able to read and think. For example, why read Beowulf? It’s one of the oldest surviving poems in Old English.”

Appreciating the historical significance of the poem, which is dated somewhere between the eighth and 11^th centuries, is another part of understanding literature.

LeBlanc’s successes are not lost on others. Carmen Pickard, senior counselor at NHS, penned a letter of recommendation for university admissions for LeBlanc. She cites his excellence in academics, leadership, character, community service and personal endeavors.

“He (LeBlanc) is an outstanding student and young man,” Pickard said in the letter. “He holds himself to a high standard of achievement and work ethics. Avery thrives on challenges, setting academic and personal goals and fulfilling commitments.”

Avery LeBlanc is the son of Samantha LeBlanc and Frankie LeBlanc. He plans to attend either Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn. or the University of Texas at Austin.

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