Falcons Take Flight

Nearly every adult you come in contact with will tell you, "Oh, don't worry, your senior year will be fun and simple. It'll be a laid back year." I hate to say that our fellow falcons can prove them wrong. Our school keeps us busy from start to finish, and the college process doesn't make high school life any easier. Most of us Falcons have not had a "break" since the end of last summer. However, the college process was an exciting experience no falcon can ever forget. We decided to ask three ardent students how they've dealt with the stress and what they hope is in store for them.

Which college are you going to attend? What made you decide on attending?
Elizabeth Murillo: I'm going to attend Wellesley College next year in Wellesley, Massachusetts. What called me to apply was it's great curriculum and close friendship between many of the girls there, since it's an all-girls school.
Juan Gonzalez: I'm going to attend UC Irvine. Irvine has always been my dream school ever since I was in middle school, so selecting Irvine was a no-brainer.
Andrew Segura: I will be attending the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) this fall. One of the major factors that affected my decision on attending UCLA was the level of academic rigor that UCLA is know for as well as the prestige that goes along with it. There are also many research opportunities available at UCLA which are vital when you are majoring in any science or engineering.

How do you imagine your life in college?
Elizabeth: I think I'm going to be one of those girls that stays in the dorms and doesn't do much besides work hard. I really get a kick out of intellectually pursuing my goals in the academic area, but I also want to make lots of new friends.
Juan: I imagine college life fun and exciting, yet filled with a lot of work. However, the experience will be unforgettable.
Andrew: I imagine college life as the best and worst four years of my life. The rigor of college classes are sure to be strenuous. Apart from this, college provides a new found feel of freedom which is sure to make my college experience that much more exciting.

What was the most difficult part of the college process?
Elizabeth: I think the most difficult part was waiting for the colleges to answer back. Everything else is pretty difficult, but once you've got it done, it's like "Was I good enough? Will I get in?" and it would be around a 4-5 month wait, so that anxiety just gets to you and you wonder if you didn't get into any college, what would you do after that, so it's pretty nerve-wracking.
Juan: The most difficult part of the college process would have been writing the personal statements. It takes a lot of time revising them over and over and over again.
Andrew: The most difficult part of the college process hands down is the application itself. The college application comes with many parts, including a couple of essays to convince the school why it is that you are the ideal student for their institution and why they should choose you over thousands of other applicants.

How do you feel about dorming with people you haven’t met before?
Elizabeth: I've actually already met my roommate. If I hadn't met her before I would probably feel really anxious and probably feel like I wouldn't get along with her maybe.
Juan: I'm personally excited to dorm with people I never met, but a part of me is scared because my roommate might be a serial killer. No, but serious, we don't know the person so it's exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time.
Andrew: I am actually quite excited about dorming with someone I have never met before. It will be an excellent experience to be exposed to new people and be able to learn about their culture and customs. Being a resident of Lynwood for most of my life, we do not see much diversity in our city. Dorming with an individual you have not met yet can help expose you to the world. You never know, that random person might just end up being one of your greatest friends.

Do you worry about living away from your family and friends?
Elizabeth: Not really, I think you have to learn to be on your own. There are times when I get a bit anxious about it, but overall I'm very excited about moving to Massachusetts for the next four years.
Juan: I don't worry about leaving my family and friends since it's something that happens eventually in life. However, I will miss them very much and I know in the long run we'll see each other again.
Andrew: Since UCLA is not that far away from home, I can easily come back to visit my family whenever I am homesick.

What kinds of activities do you plan on being involved in?
Elizabeth: I'm planning to join the fencing team, and I'm also planning to do archery. I really want to get into sports because I know in high school I wasn't really the sporty kind of girl, but I really do want to get into lots of activities.
Juan: I plan getting involved on whatever I can. I'm going to make sure I enjoy my life to the fullest and do everything I can with it.

What are you most excited for about college?
Elizabeth: Just experiencing new things and growing as a person.
Juan: Well, Irvine is known for the Asian population and I'm not gonna lie, I'm excited to have an Asian girlfriend hopefully. Exploring their culture also seems fun.
Andrew: One of the things I am most excited about in college is that I can finally study what interests me.

What will you miss the most about high school?
Elizabeth: I think I'll miss the kind of relaxing atmosphere. In high school there's not so much at stake I suppose.
Juan: What I'll miss most from high school are my friends that I met over my four years here. They've truly impacted my life and I'll never forget each and every moment we've spent together watching each other grow as a person and as an individual.
Andrew: I am surely going to miss all of the incredible individuals I have met at Firebaugh High School. I met my best friend Jose Sandoval here. I was graced with the honor to have been friends with the great Maritsa Negrete! I also met some of the greatest and most dedicated teachers I have had to date! They include but are not limited to: Mr. Nguyen, Mr. Ude, Ms. Thomas Ms. Rojas, Ms. Rascon, Ms. Parkhill, and many others. You have all done an amazing job, and I truly appreciate all you have all done for me throughout my high school years.

What are you hoping to get out of this experience? (What are your goals for the future?)
Juan: In the long run, I'm just hoping I make something of myself and prove to all those who never believed in me that anything's possible with determination. I want to let everyone know that you can achieve anything if you set your mind and goals. Just like I will some day become a neurologist and live a rich and well-rounded life.
Andrew: My goals for the future are to finish my studies and find a well paying job. I would then use that money to open a research laboratory with Maritsa Negrete in which we would use our knowledge of Astrobiology, Astrophysics, and Astrochemistry to attempt to discover intelligent life outside of the planet earth.