I remember stepping onto the Preuss campus and feeling very timid on the first day of school. Although this school is small, as a twelve year old, it can be an impactful change with leaving our local community and childhood friends. However, the community was incredibly welcoming. Teachers understood that the next seven years of our lives here would be a rollercoaster and a different experience from an ordinary high school. Of course adjusting was hard, but this school improved my social skills and allowed me to show my personality.

The first ever program I attended was FLL (First Lego League) in sixth grade. This program opened up my horizons to the STEM field. I was able to meet high schoolers at the time, who I still have a bond with, and be a part of competitions. I continued this program until the eighth grade, and I knew I had met lifetime friends with this three year program. Sadly, I didn’t get to experience the first year of high school like any other ordinary year due to COVID, which is why I decided to take advantage of my sophomore and junior year.

One of the clubs I was mostly involved in throughout high school was Robotics, and on top of that, I got involved with Cross Country and Soccer. The unlimited memories that I made from sports and other clubs and activities became nostalgic. I got to travel to different places due to Robotics and Sports, such as Orange County and all over San Diego, out of the ordinary opportunities that allowed me to meet new people internationally and all over the country as well.

As I embark on my final weeks as a senior year, I look back at how much the past seven years have impacted me as an individual and the growth that I was able to achieve. From being a timid sixth grader, to being a tutor, leader, and helper, I’m glad I took on the risk of attending Preuss. It has shaped me into the student I am today and the infinite knowledge that teachers have shared with me over the years is something I will forever carry on my next journey with me.

I’m proud to say I will be attending San Diego State University, studying microbiology, with an emphasis in pre-med, and I’d like to thank my teachers, friends, and family who encouraged me to strive for my best, even when I was at my lowest.