“Everyone is taking their own path in life… lift others up for their unique qualities instead of bringing them down.”
Alexis Woods, class of 2021, is a musician, animal lover, and proud French Club member. On campus, she is a member of Honor Committee, the assistant editor of the Margazine, and took part in a short-lived a cappella group her sophomore year. She dislikes climate change, and enjoys writing articles to help inform others on the current climate crisis and other environmental issues (you can find her most recent article here). Outside of school, Alexis loves making CDs for her friends, playing Bananagrams, driving down PCH, and talking during movies— except horror movies, she doesn’t like those. She also dislikes seafood. During the summer, Alexis volunteers for Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach. She says that this has been “one of my most meaningful experiences during high school.” She enjoys volunteering each year and says that “by participating in the recreation of paintings and other art, I feel like I am contributing to the appreciation of art and its history.” She has also gotten to know many of the other volunteers, and says that she has made many friends and met “some really wonderful people.” Both on and off campus, Alexis has made many friends that have greatly influenced her high school experience. Because of this, her one piece of advice for rising seniors is to talk to people more. “Know someone who you’ve never ever had a conversation with, even though you’ve already been through three years of high school together? Talk to them,” she says. “Don’t know their name? Learn it.” With the final years before college fast approaching, Alexis stresses how important it is to spend as much time with as many people as you can before graduation. “Maybe you guys coincidentally get your wisdom teeth out the same week and commiserate over being unable to eat popcorn… or maybe you have absolutely nothing in common. You’ll never know unless you talk to these people.” One of Alexis’s favorite high school memories came from stepping out of her comfort zone and spending time with people that she wasn’t previously close with. The summer after her sophomore year, Alexis went on the SMES college tour trip. Not many of her close friends were going, but by the time the trip was over she had become much closer with both her close friends and new friends as well. “The trip allowed me to explore colleges and cities on the other side of the country,” she says, but admits that her favorite part was “the free time we had after touring a college in Philadelphia.” She recalls the experience, saying that she “had [her] first and only Philly cheesesteak ever.” She then went with some of her new friends to a psychic reading, which was another new experience. “Apparently I have a good chakra balance,” she remembers. This trip was all about stepping out of her comfort zone and trying new things, and Alexis says that “overall it was a great way to experience a sort of independence that I hadn’t really experienced before.” Often, people are scared to try new things because they fear that they may make a mistake. However, some of the best experiences come from trying new things, even if they were a mistake. Looking back on her high school experience, this is something that Alexis feels like she has learned. “Don’t be afraid to make mistakes,” she says. “So what if you forget to print a paper before class or can’t remember the difference between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems? So what if you dye your hair a crazy color then realize that you only have one more week of summer? We all make mistakes. It’s high school.” When others make mistakes, Alexis treats them with kindness despite how she may have initially viewed them. She says that coming into high school, she wishes that she knew not to judge people too much. “Everyone is taking their own path in life,” she says, “and many might like or do something that you think is weird. Lift others up for their unique qualities instead of bringing them down.” Looking forward to senior year, Alexis is most excited for the end of year water balloon fight. Despite their differences, it is a moment that the entire senior class enjoys together. “This tradition not only signals the end of our last year of high school,” she says, “but brings everyone together one final time.” Alexis loves watching it every year, and can’t wait for her turn to participate in the water balloon fight with the class of 2021. Responses have been edited for length and clarity.
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