Kai Kalin is a senior at Muscatine High School this year and is a fairly involved student, participating in football, jazz choir, and show choir, and plans to participate in track during the spring. Kai has four classes at the high school and one class at the college that keep him pretty busy.
If you don’t already know Kai, his reputation revolves around being the nice guy as he goes about his day trying to include others, just like his groups do for him. He has been in football since the 7th grade and the show choir since his sophomore year of high school, after he was convinced to try something a little out of his comfort zone.
When Kai was asked how he keeps everything balanced and prevents burnout, he had a simple yet impactful answer: “I hang out with my friends or just drive around whenever I have free time; it helps with the stress, and it’s a lot of fun.”
When it comes to handling everything that being a football player demands, he said, “I go to practice every day and give my 100%.”
Since he is such a fan of physical challenge, football tends to be his number one choice, especially shown through his 6-year commitment to the sport.
And, even though he thoroughly enjoys music, high school choir has simply been a way for him to make his hobby official, as he stated, “I can take up music whenever I feel like it, at home or whatever.”
With both activities taking up hours of his day, his persistence shines through.
“I go straight from football to dropping off a few friends to grabbing a quick bite, then I get to show choir and give everything I have left of that day,” said Kai.
With everything going on, he doesn’t get much time to himself when football and show choir overlap. So he never takes his free time for granted.
Overall, as Kai prepares to finish his senior year, his dedication to both athletics and the arts continues to stand out. Whether he’s on the football field giving his all or performing under the stage lights, his commitment remains the same 100 percent in everything he does. Balancing both worlds has taught him discipline, time management, and the importance of surrounding himself with good people and being a good person himself.
As graduation approaches, Kai’s work ethic and positive attitude leave a lasting impression on those around him, showing that with passion and perseverance, it’s possible to do it all.
