PF teen active, not afraid to take chances

If there is a spirit award given to members of Post Falls High School, Adam Lippert would definitely be in the running. As junior class president, he is a high-achieving, hardworking student who also knows how to have fun.

“My friends and I like to do practical jokes,” said Lippert who describes friends who jumped into the water at the Coeur d’Alene city beach during the recent Christmas break just to see people laugh. “We don’t do anything illegal, just funny stuff.”

But when it is time to get serious, Lippert knows how to get the work done whether it is in his honors level classes, student body, Boy Scouts or his sports teams.

Lippert has been involved in student government since freshman year and says he takes the role as class president seriously.

“I think I speak for the students very well. I go and talk to the kids about what they think. It’s important to get their opinions,” he said.

He and the other members of student government attend a leadership class as part of their curriculum. They use class time for planning and carrying out events such as fundraisers, homecoming and spirit days.

Lippert’s other classes include honors English, honors pre-calculus, honors chemistry and advanced placement history – a class for which he can earn college credit by passing a test at the end of the course.

But his favorite is his video production class.

“I got my first video camera for my birthday when I was 11,” Lippert said. He enjoyed taking movies of himself and his friends and a couple of years later his parents purchased an editing program for him. Lippert said now he and his friends enjoy making movies which are fully scripted and edited. “My ultimate dream is to have a TV show like ‘Scrubs’ or ‘Friends’ with a couple friends,” he said. He said he would also like to be a director, producer or actor but sees that as a one-in-a-million chance.

But taking chances is nothing that intimidates this energetic young man. This year he went out for the football team at Post Falls High even though he said he had never played a game of football in his life. But with encouragement from his friends, he decided to give it a try and has no regrets.

“It’s the most fun team sport I’ve ever played,” Lippert said. He plays running back and wide receiver. He did not expect to get any playing time because he didn’t know how to run the plays. But by listening to advice from coaches and friends he quickly learned the game and found himself on the field in the second quarter of the first game.

He already cannot wait for next season. “It looks like it is going to be one of our best years ever,” he said.

Part of Lippert’s success in football can most likely be attributed to his experience on the track team. He has been in track since middle school, but admits to being intimidated when he first started on the Post Falls High track team.

“In eighth grade you are the biggest and strongest, but as a freshman you are at the bottom of the food chain,” he said. Evidently the intimidation was a motivator for him. He lettered during his freshman year and looks forward to possibly continuing track even after he graduates next year.

When school activities are not taking up his time, he loves to play paint ball and airsoft. But Lippert said he and his friends have discovered the hard way that those are sports which must be done on professional fields or on his friend’s rural property.

“We found out it is illegal to do it within the city limits so now we go somewhere else to do it,” he said.

A Scout since he was little, Lippert is ready to start working on his Eagle Scout project. Last year he and his fellow troop members were awarded the Mayor’s Youth Award for the work they did constructing a new front porch and ramp for a handicapped couple.

“We knew there was a need and we decided to do it,” Lippert said. “It all worked out great.”

Whether it is challenging himself academically or trying a new sport like he did with football, Lippert said he thinks everyone should take chances.

“Try new things and put up with making mistakes. Listen to the people who are encouraging you,” he said. And never forget the ability to laugh.