Class of 2023

Mateo

High School: La Salle Catholic College Preparatory

Career Aspirations:

The career I want to go into is computer coding. By doing this project, I learned how computers affect the developing brains of young people.

Leadership and Legacy Project:

For my Leadership and Legacy, I decided to make podcasts about device use and anxiety. Through this project I learned how to edit audio and send professional emails I also learned how to write a professional script and how to interview professionals like my mentor, Amy King.

Favorite Memory:

My favorite memory of Marylhurst is exploring the swampy marsh that is the river in the forest here at Heron Creek. Going down it and seeing so many interesting things. At the end of it all, getting out and having to deal with wet socks and shoes, it was like an amusement ride in nature.

Younger Student Advice:

Be creative and be adventurous

Al

High School: Milwaukie Academy of the Arts

Career Aspirations:

I want a career in the culinary arts because food is delicious.

Leadership and Legacy Project:

My project’s focus was long-exposure photography. The first step was to take a picture of the Clackamas River. After I edited and printed out that photo I started painting it. Over many months of painting, I also took different kinds of long-exposure photos and incorporated all the photos I took into a book with a line of my poem underneath each one.

Favorite Memory:

My favorite memory at Marylhurst was when I first arrived at a Community Meeting and a few of the kids wanted me to sit with them. They kept calling me mom so from there on out they would wave and say hi every time they saw me.  

Advice for Younger Students:

Get your homework done in the first two days after getting it, it’ll help you in high school.

Celeste

High School: Milwaukie Academy of the Arts

Career Aspirations:

Costume Designer

Leadership and Legacy Project:

My Leadership and Legacy project was focused on my love for fabric and clothing design. I enjoy making my own clothes for daily use, but I prefer making fancy dresses and shawls, and accessories. Using this passion, I designed and made an evening gown from a pattern I made myself with the support of my mentor, Sean Kellam.

Favorite Memory:

My favorite memory, from my time at Marylhurst, was the time in 6th grade when there was a massive downpour midway through the school day. We were still outside in tents due to Covid, so everyone was soaked and cold. The tents were flooding and some people were trying to make dams or dig moats to keep the floors dry but it was not working. I think someone recorded it on a Chromebook. We were being dramatic and called it our last will and testament. In actuality, we gave up on the moat and just listened to music and sang along until the rain was over.

Tips For Younger Students:

Whatever you do, don’t procrastinate! If you don't think you can’t finish something on time, email your teachers. They will understand and make a plan with you on how to complete the assignment in a way that ensures it is good work and that it gets turned in as soon as possible.

Ophelia

High School: St. Mary’s Academy

Career Aspirations:

I don't know what I want to do for my career or future. For now, I’m going to focus on trying to do well in high school.

Leadership and Legacy Project:

For my Leadership and Legacy project, I’m designing and drawing a book of ten comics that are set at Marylhurst. The stories are short and show a lighthearted community of 20 middle schoolers and their experiences at school. Some stories show groups of students being funny and mischievous, others have the students finding hidden passageways and ghosts.

Favorite Memory:

My favorite Marylhurst memory actually happened relatively recently. Al, Quinn, Willow, and I were sitting outside, talking when Al randomly screamed something about Quinn having a spider on her. Consequently, Quinn jumped up and began shaking to try and get the spider off of her, all while screaming “WHERE IS IT?” Al got up and tried to help Quinn find the spider, while Willow and I just sat and watched. Willow smiled and jokingly said, “Quinn, the spider is on your pants.” Quinn reacted accordingly, jumping and screaming. Meanwhile, Willow and I were laughing our heads off. This pattern continued for a few minutes until Quinn gave up on finding the spider. It was a good laugh for the group.

Tips for younger students:

The best advice I have for you is don't be afraid to make mistakes, it's a learning process. Don’t procrastinate, and save me a maple bar.

Zack

High School: Milwaukie Academy of the Arts

Leadership and Legacy Project:

After my first project fell through I had to quickly shift and redesign a completely different project which was building a pavilion on the path to the Village side of the school. My pavilion is also the starting point for the Heron’s Earth Timeline walk. It was a fun process. I left knowing how to set posts, how to cut wood, and how to use tools properly. My advice for all future eighth graders is that you shouldn’t procrastinate on your L&L project.

Career Aspirations:

I wouldn't mind doing a lot of different jobs, like being an artist or a mechanic, or being a content creator, or making video games, or being a chef… but honestly, I have zero idea what I want to do.

Favorite Memory:

I don't actually have a favorite memory that I can think of. Really, just the memory of going to school at Marylhurst is a good enough memory for me.

Younger Student Advice:

Be the best student you can be and turn your homework in on time.

Willow

High School: West Linn High School

Career Aspiration: Prosecutor/Psychologist

Leadership & Legacy:

For my Leadership & Legacy project, I am writing a song based on our Heron's Constitution. Throughout this year, I experienced many opportunities. I participated in the Page Program in the Oregon House of Representatives, and spent a day shadowing my mentor Meggie Kirshner at the Clackamas County Courthouse to learn more about the District Attorney's Office and the judicial process. For the musical and written component of my Leadership & Legacy project, I enjoyed working with Alan Singley. Together we spent time trying out chords, finding different ways to write lyrics, and learning more about music.

Favorite Memory:

My favorite memory was on the 7th grade camping trip to Forlorn Lakes. Al and I were in our tent in the middle of the night. We grew bored and started hitting our stomachs. We were about to try and sleep until we heard a reply. People in another tent started to hit their stomachs too. Soon we slapped our stomachs again. Then they did the same. It felt like our own little language as we communicated. All was well until Emily yelled at us to be quiet! So then we giggled as we tried to sleep with our stomachs stinging lightly.

Tips for Younger Students:

Be kind and respectful to your peers and yourself. Have a good attitude for trying new things, and be flexible.