Name: Yulia

Năm tốt nghiệp:2020

Middle School:  Pinole Middle School

Hometown: Pinole

 

What's the biggest difference between middle school and high school? The level of academic rigor. I attended a large, public middle school which was not very academically challenging. In middle school, I didn't learn how to think critically about a text or how to explore different methods of solving a math problem. At College Prep, the homework requires me to think deeply about each subject, whereas in middle school I did a lot of “busy work.” Similarly, the academic support system at Prep is outstanding. In middle school, I didn’t have the opportunity to meet with my teachers outside of class and ask for help. During my time here, I’ve had lots of meetings with my teachers (quite a few of them over tea and snacks) to go over a tough problem or to discuss a recent in-class essay.

 

Why are you glad that you chose College Prep? Because of its incredibly warm and tight-knit community! During my shadow visit, I remember feeling like a part of the community, instead of feeling like an outsider. My host readily invited me to take part in class activities and conversations with their friends. Plus, watching the interactions between students, I knew that College Prep was the place that would help me grow socially and academically.

 

What advice do you have for 8th graders applying to high school? Be yourself! I know this sounds cheesy, but pretending to be someone you're not to please admissions officers isn't beneficial. Find a place where you will feel comfortable being yourself, a place that will nurture your academic interests, and a place that will help you grow into the person you want to be. You will ultimately be happier and more successful if you listen to your heart instead of high school rankings.

 

What campus activities are you involved in? I am a co-leader of the Cooking Club! We hold semi-regular meetings to cook and watch cooking shows. Cooking has always been a huge part of my life and heritage, so I wanted to share my passion for food with the rest of the community. I am also a mentor for the Partners Program. The Partners Program works with underserved Oakland public middle school students to provide them with academic resources to help them thrive in school. As a mentor, I have weekly one-on-one meetings with a student throughout the course of the semester to help them with homework and introduce them to more advanced material. I love working with these students because middle schoolers always have something hilarious on their minds! Additionally, I am in College Prep’s STEM Program. During the spring semester of the program, students take a class about lab etiquette, reading scientific papers, and everything in between. During the summer, we have a 6-week internship in a university laboratory. When we return in the fall, we present our findings at the STEMPosium to conclude our journey. I have always enjoyed science class, and STEM has allowed me to more seriously pursue my love for the sciences. STEM has also shown me what being a scientist really entails. Spoiler alert: there is a lot of writing involved!

 

What is your favorite place on campus? My favorite place on campus is the sculpture! In the spring, the sun shines on the sculpture for most of the day, making it a great place to read or to hang out with friends. Plus, it’s close to the vending machines so a bag of Doritos is only a few steps away!

 

What has been your favorite class? So far, my favorite class at College Prep has been Chemistry during sophomore year because it was so interactive. We did awesome experiments every week, making the abstract material a little bit easier to understand. These experiments weren’t just fun to look at, they also solidified my understanding of the topic!

 

What has been the best thing about College Prep? The people. From students to teachers, there is a huge support system. School can be very hard at times, but I know I can always rely on my teachers and friends to support me. Once, during a difficult week filled with exams, quizzes, and essays, one of my friends snuck a box of my favorite tea into my locker. Without such loving people around me, my high school years would be a lot tougher.