Brock Sigler may be a natural at many things — math, tennis, and soccer, to name a few — but when it comes to talking to strangers, the Tilghman senior admits he sometimes struggles.

"I'm a pretty shy person when it comes down to it," Sigler said. "It's a good thing to talk to people, ... and it's hard to do when you're shy. You don't want to be the first one to come up and initiate conversation."

While it may be tempting to stay in his comfort zone, Sigler said he tries to face his shyness head on.

"Being in pressure situations ... has really helped me grow as a person," he said.

Brock Sigler, son of Jim and Susie Sigler, is the Mid-Continent University Teen of the Week. Each Monday, the Sun features a different MCU Teen of the Week selected from nominees whom guidance counselors throughout western Kentucky and southern Illinois submit to the Sun. Mid-Continent University will provide each Teen of the Week with a $2,500 annual scholarship to its university, which is renewable for four years. In the spring, a Teen of the Year will be chosen from the weekly winners. The Teen of the Year is eligible for a full four-year scholarship to Mid-Continent University or a cash award of $2,500, paid through the Paducah Sun, if the student selects another college to attend.

Many of Sigler's activities would make the average introvert run and hide, but he said they've allowed him to break out of his shell.

"Mock Trial helps out a lot. ...There's tons of people around, and you're getting asked questions and put on the spot, and you have to perform with it. You get really nervous," he said.

Sigler said his father — a lawyer, and one of Sigler's role models — encouraged him to participate in Mock Trial. Sigler said wasn't sure what he was doing there at first, but has come to enjoy it.

According to Sigler, it's not unusual for his parents, teachers, and coaches to urge him to go further. His mother encouraged him to participate in the Tilghman Choir for two years, even though Sigler doesn't consider himself a strong singer.

She also nudged him toward applying to study architecture at the Governor's School for the Arts at Transylvania University last summer.

"That helped me a lot with being shy," Sigler said, recalling how he knew only one other student in the program when he first arrived on campus.

Sigler is grateful for the input, and said he has never regretted following anyone's advice.

"So far everyone I've listened to has been great," he said. "I couldn't be here without the people around me."

The student added that he hopes, in turn, to influence others. He's active in his youth group at Immanuel Baptist Church, and works on the staff of the Christian Learning Center Gymnasium, which hosts the Rightway Basketball program.

Sigler was a volunteer basketball coach for Rightway for two years, and continues to keep score for the teams.

"I hope I've set a path that some kids might want to go down. Everybody has their unique thing they want to do in high school, but hopefully I'm somebody that can be looked up to," he said.

Contact Laurel Black, a Paducah Sun staff writer, at 270-575-8641.