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With local high schools holding their commencement ceremonies this week, the Voice wanted to hear from graduating seniors about what their high school experience has been like.
Below is a Q&A interview with Los Altos High senior David Zeng, who reflected on his experience at the school. Answers have been edited for style and clarity.
What is your favorite memory from high school?
My absolute favorite high school memory is crossing the finish line at my final cross country race of senior year. My season was initially disrupted by illness, but I prepared as much as I could leading up to this final race. I pushed myself way beyond my limits and ended up with a personal record of almost three minutes, finishing in around 22 minutes. Seeing the friends and teammates who started this four-year journey with me cheering and celebrating such a huge improvement, made all the hard work feel totally worth it. For me, this was a remarkable course improvement from freshman year, going from one of the slowest runners on the team to beating my personal goal.
What’s a word that describes your senior year?
Memories. I spent the whole year consciously preserving the few moments I had left with my friends. Realizing that my high school journey was coming to an end, I did my best to take photos and record everything important to me. I also focused on making new memories by going to the gym and trying new foods while hanging out with friends. I believe these experiences will stay with me, even many years down the road.
What song defines your senior year?
“Sign of the Times” by Harry Styles. This song captures the “end of an era” feeling of leaving high school behind. This song was also featured in “Project Hail Mary,” my favorite movie this year and a book I’ve loved since eighth grade. I was so glad that the friends who watched it with me all found it amazing, too. Watching it turn out to be an incredible adaptation with my friends was an unforgettable moment. The phrase “sign of the times” also really resonates with me as a symbol of change: leaving Los Altos, my friends and family, and my familiar environment behind as I head off to college.
Which class do you think prepared you most for life after high school?
Acting. I initially planned to take it senior year because I thought it would be a low-stakes, chill environment to hang out with my friends and fulfill the performing arts requirement. As the year went on, the scene performances and acting shows pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me build confidence in front of others. Public speaking to an audience is a skill that will undoubtedly carry me throughout college and beyond.
Finish this sentence: “In 10 years I’m going to be…”
…navigating my residency for medical school. I plan on applying to med school after college, so by then, my professional training will be underway.
What’s the top piece of advice that you would give to incoming high schoolers?
The best advice I can give to incoming high schoolers is to put yourself out there and tackle every extracurricular opportunity you come across. Doing this opens the door to so many new connections and future opportunities. Whenever something new feels really daunting to me, I remind myself that simply taking the first step and showing up consistently always makes it more manageable. Even if it ends up completely failing, you would have at least learned something and had the satisfaction of trying. Taking these risks early on also trains your future self not to be afraid of rejection when it inevitably happens.
What are you most proud of accomplishing or overcoming in high school?
I am most proud of overcoming the isolation of moving to a new school district in ninth grade. Entering Los Altos High, I knew no one from my middle school and had no clear goals. However, I was soon able to overcome that isolation and meet my closest friends. I pushed myself to get involved in cross country, volunteer in the community, and eventually became the president of the Chemistry Club. I am most proud that I built a meaningful community rather than shying away from it.
Los Altos High’s commencement ceremony is scheduled for Friday evening, June 5. Check back on Saturday for coverage of the ceremony, along with a list of the graduates.
