Name: Ellie

Graduation Year: 2023

Middle School: Redwood Day

Hometown: Oakland

 

Why did you choose College Prep? At my shadow visit I remember feeling very welcomed by everybody. People were talking to me, giving me food, and showing me around. It felt so different from all of my other school visits. I was also taken by the teaching style. Every class I went to was interesting and interactive. I could tell that it was a place where I would be able to grow and learn while also being in a compassionate community.

 

What's the biggest difference between middle school and high school? The expectations both teachers and peers have for you. I'm being pushed more not just by tougher assignments, but also by the community. I put more effort into class discussions and group work because I know that everybody around me is as well. Being in a community that is so passionate about learning in turn raised my expectations for myself.

 

What advice do you have for 8th graders applying to high school? Take a step back to reflect on who you are and what you want in a high school. Try to distance yourself from where your friends are going or a school's reputation. Just be yourself and remember you're assessing the school as much as they're assessing you!

 

What is your favorite place on campus? The benches at the top of campus. It's such a pretty spot and you're shaded by this beautiful tree right next to the stream. It's always very peaceful up there. I love going there to finish up homework during my free period or talk to my friends. I think it's the perfect spot to go for a little quiet or for some nice productivity :)

 

What are you involved in on Campus? Soccer, volleyball, and CATFood. The soccer team is an amazing community and it gave me a chance to bond with people in other grades as well as a place to push myself and grow. The volleyball team was a new experience for me but I could not have been happier with the people I got to play with and the friends I made. I had only played a little bit before this and everybody was so kind and patient which made the experience much better. CATFood (Community Action Team: Food Justice) was something I was excited to get involved with because it provided me with a way to participate in food justice in my community. I've always cared a lot about food justice and it connected me both with an incredible group of people and with organizations that I was able to continue to volunteer with after a CATFood trip.

 

What has been your favorite class? I loved Asian Worlds. I've always been very into history and Asian Worlds was such a fun class that taught me a new way of looking at history. The class was focused on why everything was happening. The ideas stuck with me because I wasn't just memorizing facts, I was really thinking about what I was learning.

 

What has been the best thing about College Prep? The culture! There's this determination to learn that I share with everyone around me. It both pushed me academically and surrounded me with people I love being around.

 

Who is your favorite character from a movie/book/television series? Gotta go with Ferris Bueller. For as long as I can remember that has been my favorite movie and there's always been something so appealing about him. I find the ease with which he lives his life and his ability to know himself admirable.

 

1. I play the ukulele but I learned from my left-handed friend and so I play it upside down (despite being right-handed).

2. My favorite type of candy is Reeses and I will continue to eat them until someone takes them away from me.

3. Breakfast food is my favorite, but I don't actually eat breakfast, so I enjoy pancakes as a midnight snack.