Q&A // Gabriel Lincoln-Decusatis, Harford Tech, track

April 20, 2008

Harford Tech's Gabriel Lincoln-DeCusatis served in the state's legislative page program during the session that ended recently and hopes to run for president in 2028. (Sun photo by Lloyd Fox / April 16, 2008)

Distance runner Gabriel Lincoln-DeCusatis helped the Harford Tech outdoor track and field program grow rapidly in the past few seasons. But there's a lot more in the senior's life than track and field.

Lincoln-DeCusatis likes politics and is interested in running for president one day. He just finished serving in the state's legislative page program in Annapolis during the session that recently ended.

He has a 4.0 grade point average and is a member of the National Honor Society and the school's student government. Lincoln-DeCusatis has had to overcome learning disabilities in writing, reading and mathematics.

Since you're busy with so many other things, what does being involved in track and field do for you?

It just helps me improve myself as a person. If I can break goals that I set for myself, then it helps me realize I can overcome certain challenges and improve myself mentally as a person. Also, all of my best friends at school I've made in track, and I can take that the rest of my life.

How much fun has it been being part of program that is growing like Harford Tech track?

It's been really a great experience for me because I've gotten to see what hard work can actually do. I've seen the program pretty much start from nothing and become something. It's something really amazing, and we don't even have a track to run on. It's a testament to the people we have on our team.

What do you think you'll be able to do in college in regard to running?

I think I'm pretty much just going to do the best I can. I'm doing it because I love to run, and if I do well, it's something I'll have the rest of my life.

What has overcoming your learning disabilities taught you?

That makes me more determined to do things the right way. I have to work harder sometimes. It's frustrating at times, but it's something I had to get used to a long time ago, when I was in elementary school.

What lessons did you learn from being part of the legislative program?

I've learned a lot more about how it works. Basically, I learned the wheeling and the dealing of politics and how things get moving. It surprised me a little bit. The lobbyists' influence, there's a lot of that down there.

What's your major going to be in college and what to do you want to do for a career?

I want to major in political science, and I want to go into international relations, and I want to eventually run for president of the United States in 2028. I realize how tough it's going to be to do that, but I've been overcoming tough challenges my whole life, and that's something I'm willing to take on again.

What changes would you make if elected president?

First of all, I would make it so that every American has affordable health care coverage and so that America can re-establish itself as a nation of peace, hope and prosperity in the world. I also want to reform the system so that lobbyists can't grease the pockets of politicians in Washington.

[Jeff Seidel

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Q&A // Gabriel Lincoln-Decusatis, Harford Tech, track

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Q&A // Gabriel Lincoln-Decusatis, Harford Tech, track

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