Having spent almost half of my life as a LACES student, it’s difficult for me to say that going to LACES made me a better person, student, or writer than if I went to another school. It can be difficult for me to even say if I did everything I should have done in high school, though after reflecting I feel I have. While LACES is renowned for its academic caliber, what makes LACES unique is how tight-knit of a community we are despite coming from different parts of Los Angeles and countless ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
When we came from a variety of different elementary schools into LACES as sixth graders, I immediately began to interact with people from different cultural backgrounds whom I would not have been able to at my homeschool because, for the most part, we did not come to LACES with the same friend group we had in elementary school. As we have grown up knowing each other over the years, a fellow high school classmate from across the city is not just another face, but someone who is a member of your community, regardless of their background. By bringing us from across the city to learn, we get to interact in a small community that brings together a big city.
Though here at LACES students are largely motivated by the desire to get into a good college, a big part of what kept me exuberant about being part of my extracurricular activities at LACES was also the sense of community. In my freshman year, journalism offered me a break from the monotony of Zoom classes, sitting isolated watching my teachers lecture on screens. Working together to create something for my peers that informs them of happenings of the school, provides information of unique utility to the community like music and food reviews, and outside events that impact them gave me a sense of purpose in my community (if you’re even thinking about it, apply for journalism next year). Throughout my time on LACES Untied staff, it has been my pleasure to have the opportunity to write to my peers and I hope as Editor-in-Chief, you have enjoyed our content this year.
While LACES is usually thought of as an academic, not a sports school, this year our boys basketball team, girls volleyball team, and boys and girls tennis teams proved that wrong. However, a big part of what enables the success of LACES sports from what I have experienced on boys tennis and cross country is the supportiveness of teammates and coaches, whether I was up or down a few games in tennis or even accidentally ran an extra lap at Pierce College.
Regarding academics, I am glad to have attended a school whose faculty supports their students in pursuing their academic curiosities and interests. I cannot be grateful enough to have had the privilege of being able to have had riveting discussions during nutrition about American history with Mr. Baskin, learning about film history from Mr. Cohen, and being gently reminded that we need to get the paper ready to be printed by the end of class by Mr. Paschen. I am also thankful to teachers who have gone above and beyond to help me have a good understanding of the material including Srta. Rubiales and Mr. Tzaferis and the teachers who check in on me in the hallway to this day long after I had them in sixth grade like Mr. Petrovic and Ms. Lawson.
While I am saddened that the time has come for me to leave this community, I’m glad for every moment I had to be a part of it. I hope that when the time comes for you all to graduate, you will feel the same.