Idleness is just not an option

National Merit Scholars exhibit a consistent high level of academic achievement through their years in high school. They have a clear vision of their future, the endorsement of their high school administration, and they perform well under pressure.

Only about 8,000 of 1.5 million students a year can call themselves National Merit Scholars. This year, eight students at Sage Hill High School in Newport Beach and three at Corona del Mar High School are among the semifinalists.

These students don’t fall into any particular mold, however.

For instance, two run track, one practices martial arts, another is an artist and another participates in theater. One thing they share, though, is their drive to succeed academically.

“If you look at our common (college) applications, we probably have like 30 hours of extracurriculars a week outside of school total. It’s nuts,” Sage Hill senior Sarah Wesley said. “At this point it’s because we like them, because we’re so stressed out if we didn’t like them it just would not be worth it.”

To say they’re modest would be an understatement.

“Being a semifinalist is something we’re happy about. We’re honored, but in all honesty, we’re pushing ourselves so much it’s more paperwork at a point,” Sage Hill School senior Sean McElroy said.

That paperwork includes submitting preliminary-SAT scores and SAT scores. Only students who score consistently high on those standardized tests and show strong academic achievement in school are considered for the scholarship.

It’s important to include the student’s transcript because a high SAT score alone could just show a talent for test-taking, senior Alex Heiney said.

“And your knowledge of algebra 1,” Sarah joked. Sarah, who shows another talent for wit, plans on becoming a neurosurgeon.

None of the Sage Hill seniors claim to be the smartest or best students there, even though their grade-point averages range from 3.7 to 4.2, on a 4.0 scale, despite taking some of the hardest classes at a school that prides itself on high academic standards.

It’s their restlessness that fuels them and could help them make it as finalists and to the even rarer air of National Merit Scholars.

“A lot of us will push ourselves and will do more over summer because we need it,” Sean said. “Our minds are constantly moving. We’re constantly needing something even if it’s to be with a friend, play a sport, reading or doing something. Not a lot of us are able to sit down and do nothing.”

JOSEPH SERNA may be reached at (714) 966-4619 or at joseph.serna@latimes.com.