Name: Marie Tetsu

Graduation Year: 2021

Middle School: Presidio Middle School

Hometown: San Francisco

 

What's the biggest difference between middle school and high school? There's a completely different level of maturity in middle school and high school. In my middle school, teachers expected us to need their help with everything from class projects to clubs. At College Prep, teachers are still hands-on, but we students are given so much more responsibility. In our campus wide email chain, I'm constantly seeing posts from students advertising a new club meeting, writing about important social issues, or detailing internship opportunities. I really like that CPS encourages students to act on what they're passionate about. 

  

What are you involved in on Campus? Since freshman year I've been involved in public forum debate, which has been a really fun way to learn and compete, but also to travel across the country attending tournaments. I've also been a part of the swim team since freshman year. Swim has been a really fun way to meet new people, exercise, and have fun cheering my friends on at meets. I'm one of the co-presidents of Math Club, and our weekly competitions are always a blast. I'm also a Partners Program mentor, and I love spending time with my mentee every week, and helping her with homework help or just giving life advice. I'm also a Writing Coach, which has been a great way to meet the underclassmen and help with their English/History needs.

 

What has been the best thing about College Prep? The community! Coming from a large public middle school (1,200+ students), I was nervous to leave my friends behind and attend much smaller school. However, I immediately found that Prep's small size really fostered a sense of community. Because we are a very academic school, it's been really great to receive help from other students who have gone through the same challenges. Whether I'm studying for a test with someone in my class, or being taught chemistry from an upperclassman, or meeting with a teacher after a confusing lecture, everyone is supportive. The community truly extends even after graduation. So many alumni have been happy to talk to me about their college experiences, and I even had the chance to work with an alum at my internship (which I found through College Prep). It's always great to talk with people who have gone through the same high school experience, and it's comforting to know that even though I'll only be at Prep for four years, I'll be part of its community for a lifetime.

 

Who is your favorite character from a movie/book/television series? Kimmy Schmidt from the Netflix original, "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt".

 

1. I was once an extra in a Six Flags commercial.

2. In freshman year I donated 12 inches of my hair to an organization that makes wigs for women with cancer.

3. I managed a team that was making a book for Tom and Rita Hanks.