It is officially summer, when Westside schools have to say goodbye to their seniors. As the graduation parties, speeches, senior pranks, and traditions denote the ascent of the Class of 2012, I thought it would be of interest to ask some of the Brentwood resident graduates how they felt before they head off to college in the fall.
Clara Clymer
Palisades Charter High School ‘12
Q: What are your plans for the fall?
This fall I am attending Colgate University in Hamilton, New York.
Q: How do you feel now that high school is over?
High school actually doesn’t end for me for another two weeks but as it is drawing to a close, I’m feeling a lot of mixed emotions. I’m of course incredibly excited about starting college and beginning this new chapter in my life but I’m anxious about leaving my home, my family, and my friends, some of whom I’ve known since kindergarten.
Q: Do you have any summer plans? Tell us about them!
This summer, I will be working at Coach Steve’s Summer of Fun, a sports camp which I used to attend as a camper and am now a counselor. I will be traveling to Peru with my grandma and I am currently in the process of planning a trip to Eastern Europe with a couple of close friends so hopefully that works out! In between all of this, I will also be getting ready to leave for college.
Q: Do you think you’re prepared for college after your experience at Pali?
Pali is definitely a factor in how prepared I feel for college; in terms of academics the rigorous level of the honors and AP classes has not only taught me subject material but also study habits and skills that are crucial for having a successful next four years.
Q: Is the college you’re going to different from Brentwood? How so?
I think my college experience living at Colgate will be very different from Brentwood. In terms of location, I will be in rural New York miles away from many of the types of stores and restaurants found in Brentwood, and instead surrounded by rolling hills. The weather will be completely different, as 50 degrees here is deemed “cold†, and I will of course be on the other side of the country from all of the comforts of home and family and friends that I associate with Brentwood. However, socially, I feel as though many of the people attending Colgate will have had similar upbringings and share a common set of values and goals that will make this home away from home slightly more familiar.
Q: How long have you lived in Brentwood? Will you be sad to leave?
I have lived in Brentwood all of my life, over 18 years, and I will be sad to leave as Brentwood embodies the majority of my experiences growing up. I have so many memories here and when I go off to college, I won’t only be leaving Brentwood behind as a location, but as my childhood as well. I am not sure if I will ever come back to live here because after college I would love to move to a metropolitan city on the East Coast such as Washington D.C. or Philadelphia or New York. Maybe after that though I would return, but I do not plan on coming back immediately after college.
Julian Ortega
Crossroads School ‘12
Q: What are your plans for the fall?
I’ll be attending Pepperdine University located in Malibu starting in the fall of 2012. I will be majoring in theater and minoring in either business or law. I also plan on working at a local restaurant or store. I also would like to join a sports team in between juggling my hectic social life, academics and rehearsal.
Q: How do you feel now that high school is over?
Now that high school is over, well I really don’t know what to do with myself. At graduation, I expected to cry and be completely depressed but on the contrary, I felt that my time at Crossroads was up.
Q: What are your summer plans?
This summer, I plan on finding a job that I enjoy but can help me accumulate savings for the college student life that lies ahead. I also might travel to Europe or Cancun, which would be a nice break. I plan on spending time with close friends before we part our separate ways for college. I also am going to spend time on my passion for film and photography, and documenting many memorable events that occur this summer.
Q: Do you think Crossroads has prepared you for college?
I can 150% say that Crossroads has prepared me for college. In the last 4 years, I have been exposed and enlightened to the joys and plights of the real world as well as the bubble that is Crossroads. Classes such as “Lifeskills†and “Community Awareness†have helped mold myself and the other 118 students in my graduating class into sophisticated, caring, and self-motivated members of the community. Although I will miss calling my teachers by their first name, Crossroads has provided me with a mix of fun and seriousness that I believe no other school to this day has successfully acquired.
Q: How do you feel about leaving Brentwood?
As I’m going to college in Malibu which is not too far from Brentwood, I believe that I am already accustomed to the similar campus atmosphere. I am truthfully thankful that unlike many of my fellow classmates, I won’t have to adjust to below 0 degree windchills or unfamiliar sights. I’ve lived in Brentwood for two years. It will be sad to move but I won’t be far. The drive to Malibu is only about 25 minutes so I can always come back home whenever I’d like to see my family. I do plan on moving back one day.
Tell us about Graduation!
Graduation itself was even more surreal than the rehearsal that had taken place the day before. As we slowly walked onto the field where most of us had grown up during our pre-school days or scored goals that won us the California State Soccer Championship, as unofficial photographers, AKA our parents, stood tearing up and snapping away at their cameras, we all walked to the stage with one thing in common, we did it; we made it this far.
Editor’s Note: We ran out of space and there will be more interviews next month. Bella Nalle is off to Shanghai for an internship with a Chinese media company.
