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Senior Retrospective

As a new student at Vaughn Next Century Learning Center, I saw myself as a regular

high student here. However, I couldn’t have been more wrong. My four years here have

been filled with extra curriculars activities that have challenged me out of my comfort zone.

And these have been some best years I could ever ask for.

From the start of Freshman year, 2015, it's crazy to say that, I found myself taking

action and getting involved with the Best Animal Society through SAVE, the very first club I

joined. I started off as a regular dog walker, spent 10-15 minutes with “easy” dogs and my

time only lasted an hour or two, but I soon became a regular volunteer, working almost 20

hours a week. I quickly became, not only a regular dog walker, but also a receptionist, cat

caregiver, office assistant, receptionist, clinical assistant, and adoption specialist. Working

with dogs was one of my favorite parts of being a volunteer there. I was able to finally feel

like I was making a change in my community, something I wanted to do for a long time. And

while I was gaining my community service hours, I also gained valuable life lessons and

recognized the many things we, myself included, take for granted every day. For example,

In America 4 million adoptable pets are being killed in the U.S alone. I had no idea that

many pets were being killed in animal shelters. Many problems like divorce, death in the

family, economic problems, minor behaviors, and no I.D are the cause to the large number

of animals in city shelters. In fact, 9,000 pets get killed per day in America’s shelters. All

these facts never crossed my mind, until I was trying to cure this problem hands-on at the

shelter. Every night, I went home I was glad that my dogs were safe, healthy, and with a

family that loves them. Moreover, taking action and becoming a member of SAVE was the
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spark I needed to commit myself to helping my community, and continue to expand my

horizons in the near future.

My first college class, Psychology 101, was a lot more than I expected and kept me

on my toes. However that's not to say, I didn’t enjoy it and learned something great. Taking

that college class really got me college and career ready while also giving skills for

academic successes like time management, revisiting notes, and creating study groups. The

late nights doing assignments and studying helped retain important information that was

easy to recall for the exams to come, and luckily, this also transferred to my academic high

school classes. Things like full notes and detailed assignments became my definite product,

in classes like History, Math, and Science. Additionally, having the time to complete my

regular homework and college assignments were like juggling bowling pins. The early

exposure to the rigorous curriculum helped me structure plans to complete not only

college work but my regular high school work and social life as well. This experience was

one I was going to continue to re-live for the next 2 college classes, and the rest of my

educational career.

The following year, as a sophmore, Music was the most exciting class in my

schedule, mainly because I was finally gaining knowledge and exploring a world I once

wished I was apart of. Before, every instrument and piece of sheet music made me dread

the fact that I wasn't involved with music, but now learning music theory and the skills to

actually play an instrument, specifically a viola, is one of the greatest achievements of my

life. Lunches and after school were spent in the music room, asking questions. I am proud
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to say that within the 2 years I’ve been playing, I have been able to be a part of the

beginning and intermediate philharmonic with the Kadima Conservatory of Music.

Currently, I’m also working with other music students in a quartet, have been a part of an

octet, and was able to be a part of a Summer Music Seminar. I find it incredible that many

people have invested their time and energy into allowing me to learn and play with them,

and just the years before I was a person who couldn't tell the difference between a quarter

note and a whole note. Without them, my dreams wouldn't be as fulfilled without the

practice, cut fingertips, and multiple strokes of the bow on a string. In fact, I was able to

meet new people as well as continue to grow as a person with new knowledge that I never

really got from my school music class. From a timid little kid, I was able to finally grow out

of my shell just a bit and play with many other musicians from different levels of

experience. Every new technique was knowledge and confidence gained and with every

performance came a new and improved me to the world.

While my whole junior year was a complete roller coaster, with what felt like more

downs than ups, I still grew and conquered. I learned to communicate ideas in many

different ways as President of Key Club. Through the many service events I participated in

to all the meetings that I set up, I was able to grow out of the young, timid freshman that

avoided making conversations and connections. Becoming a better writer in school helped

me become a communicator, which is beneficial because I had to write up emails and

effectively verbally communicate with many organizations, board leadership officers, and

members. To add on, at different community service events I had to speak to other club

members as well as listen to those who we were serving at the time.

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During the summer before my senior year, I found myself interested in the political

infrastructure of America so I took an online political science class. Afterwards, I found

myself invested in learning the process of American Government even further, something I

was never really exposed to, so I enrolled in AP American Government to investigate the

world. This class definitely furthered my understanding of American Government and its

political society. The advanced curriculum helped me understand the important court cases

that shaped legislation such as the case Brown V. Board of Education of Topeka; the

structure of the federal government which includes the division of powers between the

legislative, judiciary, and the executive branch; and most importantly, the rights that come

from the United States Constitution. Furthermore, I joined a congressional campaign to

help elect Katie Hill to the House of Representatives. I volunteered as an Intern, where my 3

months there were filled with canvassing, phonebanking, and recruiting volunteers.

Through these tasks I noticed the diverse political stance the 25th Congressional District of

California had. This experience also allowed me to investigate the world by giving me the

opportunity to meet Katie Hill herself, the president of the Human Rights Campaign, Los

Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Comedian Paul Scheer, and Former Arizona District 8

Representative Gabrielle Giffords. In the end, I was glad to finally learn about the

complexity of the election process.

During the Katie HIll campaign, I was able to recognize the different perspectives in

American politics right before my eyes. I can finally say I met someone from the other side

of the political spectrum because here in the Pacoima area, we are only exposed to the

liberal side of politics. However, with Santa Clarita’s diverse political climate, I was able to
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see the different perspectives between Democrats and Republicans. For example, as gun

reform continues to be a controversial topic among many Americans, I had people yell at

me for “trying to take away their 2nd amendment right” and working for the party that's

too progressive. I had never experienced that level of extreme aggression with regards to

sharing my opinion. Thankfully, working in the campaign helped me become an engaged

citizen ready to comply with the government to help everyone and continue the precious

democracy we have here in America.

Indeed my four years here at Vaughn were definitely not worthless, I mean I'm

standing here talking to you all, which I never believed I could do. If it weren't for all the

opportunities I had at Vaughn, I truly believe I wouldn't be the person I am now. So now I

want to pass down some wisdom to the underclass men, and here it goes. Please continue

on with your studies, many of the teachers here care so much for us students. They are here

to help you at your worst and praise you at your best. Trust them and ask for help when

needed. I haven't, till this day, met a teacher here that wasn't willing to help. But at the end

of the day, you must take the initiative to ask for help, because you’re not going to be given

the help you need if you don't ask for it. Even though the teachers are here for you, they

continue to have lives outside out of the gates, believe it or not. And as for the staff, please

bring some more flexibility when it comes to phone usage. Many of us students take on

rigorous courses that don’t allow us to complete class assignments the night before, so the

ability to use cell phones or laptops outside is so much more easier for us to keep up with

your high expectations. Having the freedom to complete assignments outside in an open

space where you can always have a place to sit and work is far more reasonable than
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wasting a teacher’s time inside a classroom. Moreover, the students who use the student

wifi are blocked from sites that are not for educational purposes, so it’s less likely that we

can’t be trusted, when a system is already restricting our content. I hope this sparks some

dialogue for more freedom in cell phone or laptop use outside. But here is where I conclude

my speech. Thank you!