25 with ’25 is a Chronicle series where we ask 25 questions to a member of the class of ’25. Between now and May, we’ll shine a spotlight on each member of this year’s graduating class. Our goal is to feature all seniors from all ACC programs. Get started by completing this Google form, and reach out to Ilana Hoffer or Clara Golner with any questions.

1. How does it feel to be a senior in high school?
   • It’s a bit overwhelming to feel like you have to have a plan for your whole life NOW, and that this moment of applying/going to college that you’ve been anticipating your whole life is also here NOW… But you don’t really have to have a plan, and you just pray that you can finally take your foot off the accelerator soon.
2. What was your favorite moment at ACC?
   • When they tore down the circle after telling us not to touch the *delicate* trees and then banned us from eating outside
3. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?
   • “Just gaslight yourself into thinking you enjoy it” – Marin
4. What advice would you give to underclassmen?
   • Focus on doing what you love. Colleges actually prefer seeing you get involved in things that feel personally relevant and you will burn out sooner or later if you aren’t interested in any of your classes or activities.
5.  Who supported you the most through high school?
   • My friends and mentor from journalism
6. What is/was your favorite core class you’ve taken and why? 
   •  9th grade world history or 10th grade PE because they were the most social. The people make the biggest difference.
7. What is/was your favorite elective and why?
   • CAD because it was basically just messing around with design software on your own.
8. What grade did you enjoy the most and why?
   • I think I am enjoying 12th grade the most because I have grown so much as a person and the workload might not be as intense as 10th or 11th grade.
9. What do you plan on doing next year?
   • Probably going to college, but I could also see myself taking a gap year and working/traveling. I want to travel this summer either way.
10. What field are you planning on going into?
    • Urban planning or transportation engineering, but I might switch it up later and I’m okay with that 🙂
11. What is a personal goal you have for life after high school?
    • Live in a dense city, ideally with free healthcare
12. What is something you can’t live without?
    • The 3 things that are ALWAYS in my pockets: phone, earbuds, iRide card
13. What is your favorite project you’ve done?
    • Concrete pots in CAD or the econ sandwich shop ad
14. Where’s your favorite place to hang out outside of school?
    •  Bike trails
15. If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?
    • Tokyo or Amsterdam
16. What’s your favorite extracurricular activity?
    • Journalism
17. Who’s your favorite musical artist?
    • Troye Sivan!! Also Tate McRae and a few others rn
18. What’s a song that you have on repeat?
    • 2 hands by Tate McRae
19. What’s your favorite movie or TV show?
    • White Chicks
20. What’s your favorite meal?
    • Literally any type of Asian noodle dish
21. Are you more of a morning person, night owl, or mid-day energizer?
    • Night owl
22. What time do you go to bed on school nights?
    • Like midnight at least…
23. What motivates you?
    • Fear of falling behind / preparing for my future
24. What’s an academic challenge you faced and how did you overcome it?
    • I’ve struggled a lot with burnout from taking on too much and becoming less efficient over time—it was especially bad at the end of 10th grade and more spread out during 11th grade. Not sure I really overcame it but taking breaks, focusing on what you love, and not taking on too much is so important—at the end of the day though, you just have to push through.
25. What’s your greatest achievement so far?
    • Co-producing a story that aired on PBS NewsHour.