MVHS grads focus on future jobs

As Mountain View High School’s class of 2012 marched over the synthetic turf of Carl Anderson Field in their black caps and gowns on June 1, they were all smiles. If any were worried about graduating into the fourth year of a recession, they didn’t show it.

But even if the 434 Mountain View High School graduates were focusing on their accomplishments, some of them have already begun to take the steps they hope will ensure their economic security in the years to come.

Before taking their final steps as high school students, three soon-to-be MVHS graduates talked to the Voice about their college plans. All three are set to begin studying in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math — STEM, as it is called in education circles. None of them plans to focus much on the liberal arts.

These two young men and one young woman are evidence of a trend in higher education, which values career-oriented, vocational training over the study of literature, philosophy, history and the arts — the humanities.

In Fyodor Dostoyevski’s 1864 novel, “Notes From Underground,” the narrator rails against social scientists of his age for applying logic and the scientific method to their thinking about humanity — arguing that it is impossible to describe the human condition mathematically and that mankind is inherently illogical.

Mountain View High School graduating senior Kamron Sarhadi has never read “Notes From Underground” and probably won’t when he heads to U.C. Davis in the fall.

Writing assignments often seem tedious to him, he says, and while he does read for pleasure occasionally, “it’s never been a huge part of my life.”

Science and math have always been his thing, he says. A degree in one of the STEM fields is bound to give him a leg up over those of his peers who study the arts or humanities, he says.

“It’s a way bigger risk,” he reasons, referring to an acting or philosophy degree. “You’re obviously not guaranteed a job out of college. I admire anyone who pursues their passion, but it’s the whole idea of whether you’re investing in something that’s really going to pay off in the future.”

Career-driven

Sarhadi’s utilitarian, career-oriented view of his future academic career is likely mirrored by a great many of his classmates — at least if New Yorker writer Ken Auletta’s observations of the attitudes of Stanford students have any parallels in the Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District.

Auletta’s recent article, “Get Rich U,” highlights the connection between businesses and Stanford University and asks whether the school is too focused on turning out businessmen and -women, whether the students are too focused on making their first million and if not enough time is spent studying the classics and asking existential questions. A total of eight graduating seniors from the district — four from each MVHS and LAHS — were accepted to the prestigious Peninsula university this year.

Craig Marker, who addressed the MVHS graduating class along with Sarhadi at the June 1 ceremony, has been accepted to U.C. San Diego and plans to pursue a degree in computer science.

“There are a lot of job opportunities in computer science, which is always a plus,” Marker says. “To major in a field that is math-oriented or science-oriented, I feel like I can do anything I want.” But, like Sarhadi, he insists that his decision wasn’t solely career oriented. “I’ve always loved math and always been good in math.”

Though he may have a stronger interest in STEM subjects, Marker is still planning to take some humanities courses in college. He doesn’t want to be so focused on one subject that he is blind to everything else.

“I want to stay broad,” he says. “I think having an understanding of the humanities is important — not being ignorant. But I definitely think majoring in broad studies that don’t have an obvious application in the real world can put students in a poor position.”

With the world in the midst of another severe economic downturn, it is hard to find flaws in Sarhadi and Marker’s logic. Why wouldn’t they pursue degrees in fields that will give them a greater chance of landing a job when they graduate?

Then again, if the humanities teach us what it means to be human, what are students who disregard the liberal arts missing? Are art and culture being replaced with cold, steely logic? Is it more important to pursue money than it is to wonder about the meaning of life?

Helping people

Sarah Benett, an incoming premed student at Johns Hopkins University, doesn’t think so. Like Sarhadi and Marker, she says that she was “always a math and science person.” But for her, medicine isn’t merely a smart career choice. “I wanted to help people,” she explains.

In addition to studying at Johns Hopkins, Benett also plans to play soccer. Originally she wanted to pursue her passion at a Division 1 school, but she ultimately decided against it for a number of reasons — not the least of which is that she will be getting a much better education at Johns Hopkins (a Division 3 school) than she would have at any of the Division 1 schools she had considered.

All three teens say they have passions that aren’t related to science, technology, math or engineering. Sarhadi likes to make hip-hop music, and Marker said he has always enjoyed public speaking. But each view education as a venture capitalist might view a group of startup companies — as a series of potential investments. And, in true Silicon Valley fashion, all three want to get the most out of their investments.

They say they are optimistic. If they make wise investments now, all three say they will have time to do unplug down the road and enjoy penning a clever rap or kicking the soccer ball. “Life is long,” Marker says. “You’ll find happiness in whatever you do.”

— — —

Mountain View High School’s Class of 2012

Heidi Diane Aguilar

Maria Fernanda Aguilar

Tara M. Ahi

Jessica Lineth Alarcon

Brenda Altun Hernandez

Claire Charlotte Amsden

Theresia Andrean

Emily Madeleine Andrew

Sarah Elisabeth Antonsson

Heidi S. Aronson

Gustavo Arredondo

Dylan Eli Auerbach

Kira Elena Bacsi

Alexander Baek

Ryan E.K. Baer

Zachary Philip Baier

David Harold Baird

Isabella Bandeira de Mello

Cheyenne Kuulei Barela

Benjamin Jacob Barton

Joe Aric Beamon Jr.

Jazmine Beltran

Sarah Elizabeth Benett

Collin Mark Bengle

Makena Catherine Berchem

Eric Charles Berg

Jun Bernardo

Foster William Bettman

Elly Whitney Biggs

Nathaniel Ethan Bischoff

Ian C. Bogle

Timothy William Bommarito

Nicholas Werner Bondy

Jacob Steele Bosset

Wesley Augustus Brandemuehl

Troy William Briggs

Samuel Johnson Brigham

Allan John Brooks

Peter Nicholas Bulash

Richard K. Burch

Thomas S. Burch

Michael Patrick Butler

John Samuel Byrom

Samuel Evan Caber

Candace Briana Call

Nelsi Marcela Candanoza

Martin Benjamin Capati

Erik Nathan Caragan

Kelsey Culpepper Carlson

Sam Isaac Carmel

Iva Celan

Ana Maria Cerna

Steven Watson Chakerian

Jerry Chang

Justin Hum Chang

Tina Chang

Marisa Anne Chao

Catherine Chen

Michael S. Chen

Thomas Guan Chen

Steven Yuchen Chou

Alice Wing See Chow

Deanna May Chung

Weronika Teodozja Ciok

Dylan Scott Collins

Robert Jin Comstock

Klisha Tupoukolotolu Cook

Misty Dominque Cunanan

Paul Michael Javier Custodio

Bryan David Daetz

Colin Shea Daley

Zachary Parker Daniloff

Kayla Christine Davila-Elrite

Audrey Wen De Guzman

Yoseline Gabriela De La Riva Camacho

Daniel De La Torre

Brian Jeffrey DeAngelis

Senem Marie Degerli

Arian Bahram Dehnow

Cornelius Francis Dempsey IV

Andrea Desgrousilliers

Mariateresa Di Nunzio

Emily Dietz

Raymon Trey Dinco

Oscar Loera Dominguez

Valeria Dominguez

Qingya Seika Dong

Lena Donner

Sarah Frances Drew

Marie Garance Dubuisson

Shannon Nicole Duong

Tori Ngoc Duong

Ehrenstrom Xia Elder

Spencer Reed Elman

Christina Anne Eliopoulos

Elizabeth Tenaya Ende

Austin James Evans

Austin James Farmer

Nicole Taka Seifollahi Farr

Alexandra Ester Farrales

Erica H Fischer-Colbrie

Rachel Elizabeth Fish

Clark S. Fisher

Kyle Sterling Fitz

Jasmine Roxanna Flake

Kateryna Fomenko

Brandon William Forrest

Caleb Thomas Fowler

Michael Cary Francisco

Vanille Celine Fricker

Derrick Douglas Frieson

Yuping Fu

Justin James Gabbard

Alex F. Galioto

Paloma Jazmin Galvan

Jingze Gao

Anna Alexandrovna Garachtchenko

Benjamin Elliott Garber

Yvette Mercedes Garcia Esquivel

Joseph Fu Seng Garvin

Gerardo Gatica

Isaiah D. Gayles

Aaron James Gee

Brian Patrick Gerard

Jessica Lina Ghanma

Daniel John Girerd

Beatrice Goh

Anna Lee Goldberg

Melissa Consuelo Gomez

Raquel Lisette Gomez

Valerie Aurora Gordon Gutierrez

Monica Lee Goulette

Franklin Paul Grabowski

Avery Grimes Farrow

William Frederick Groethe

David Christopher Grubb

Matthew A. Gruspe

Cristina Idalia Guardado

Jorge Angel Gutierrez

Viria Elena Guzman

Dor Gvirtsman

Samuel Travis Hacker

Eunice Haeja Hahn

Tyler Bryce Halsted

Kenneth Robert Hampel

Brittany Anne Harper

Alyssa Ann Hartje

Megan Abigail Hartney

Thomas James Hartshorn

Brandon E. Hayes

Rachel Hayward

Rafael Hermosilla Casado

Sophia Orzano Heye

Adelaide Amy Hill

Sean Jeremy Hinson

Amanda Elise Hirsch

Sophie Ngoc-Hanh Ho

Laura Christine Hofen

Brittany Anne Howard

Bonnie Evelyn Huff

Dominic John Hugyik

Reyna Marie Hulett

Rida Hareem Ilyas

Kathryn Kisako Inamori

Ashwin Mohan Jaini

Alexander Nils Johansson

Ryan Francis Johnson

Sagar Joshi

Devin Tyler Joy

Rachel Christine Jue

Matthew Hoon Kang

Natalie Masaye Kato

Kenneth Brian Kauffman

Wesley Kennedy

Sara Kianian

Joseph J Kim

Hannah Eileen Kirn

Joshua Michael Kirsch

Shaw Warwick Kitajima

Nicole Ilana Kliger

Andrew Garrett Knochenhauer

Shane Keli Knowles

Amanda Jane Koci

Benjamin Sean Kohn

Karina Jean Kono

Oleg Sullivan Koujikov

Thomas Masami Koyama

Michal Pawel Krupa

Stephanie Helene Kuborssy

Elena Marie Kuhn

Arjun Karthi Kulandaivelu

Evelyn Paige Kwong

Jeffrey Kye

Austin Melward Labson

Lisa Jean Lacampagne

Maya Rose Ladenheim

Clayton Glen Lambertson

Patrick Dominique Lane

Amanda C. Langill

Naomi Michelle Lattanzi

Kevin Alexander Lattin

Daniel Shoji Lau

Nelson Launer

Sherman Shu Yan Law

Brian Lee

Eric Chia Shan Lee

Kendell Christopher Lee

Stefan Mikhail Lemak

Heather Nicole Lenk

Kristofer Loren Lenk

Michael Lerner

Malik Kuso Joeli Letatau

Yuhao Liang

Stella Claire Ligon

Aaron Fang Hao Lim

Soojin Rachael Lim

Vinicius G. Lima

Luc Amram Lisi

Andrew Jehan Liu

Benjamin Denis King Lovett

Cristhian Julio-Lozano

Lauren Ann Lundquist

Catalina Maria Lynberg

Tanner James Machala

Katherine Grace Macway

Garret Ronald Madariaga

Cassandra Magana

Neil Rohit Mallinar

Emma Louise Maltbaek

Leo Mancilla

Elize Anoush Manoukian

Alexander Theodore Marcopulos

Craig Francis Marker

Carlos Alfonso Marquez

Fernando Jorge Martinez

Lynsie Burnett Mason

Danielle Marie Mateo

Lauren Nicole McAllister

Madisen S. McBride

Max Lawrence Lidiard McCarthy

Sean Homstad McDonald

Alea D’Anne McFarlane

Kylie Ariane McKown

Bryan Medina

Alberto Mejia

Mark Huan Mekkittikul

Iain Forbes Mellis

Aaron Christopher Messimer

Ida Golara Milani

Keith Andrew Milczak

David A. Miller

Drew Louis Miraglia

Lila Modarresi

Lucas Baudot Mohageg

Jared Gilbert Cordial Molas

Ulysses Giovanni Molina

Lisa Jane Moore

Lauren Nicole Moreland

Jason Paul Morgan

Roxanne Moslehi

Nathalie T Moutal

Aubrey David Andrew Myjer

Nikhil Deokule Nag

Steven Nakahama

Ivette Nava

Nikola Gottsche Nedeljkovic

Eliseo Manzano Neria

Grace Ellen Ng

Chelsea Jessica Ngo

Ashley Kathreen Nuncio

Cody Michael Nuss

Emily Keiko Ogawa

Megan Katherine Ohara

Cliona Margaret O’Keeffe

Tyler Masao Oku

Carola Stephanie Olivero

Jonathan Lucas Olivo

Rayna Garcia Olmos

Eva Olsen

Ian Paul Olsen

Jesus Armando Ortiz Pascual

Jai Phiroze Padmakumar

Nathan M. Palacios

Ricardo E. Palacios

Oscar Noel Palma Trujillo

Samantha Faye Pann

Anne Therese Pantangco

Katherine Rose Pantangco

Julie Jiyoung Park

Dora Sofia Parnanen

Tori Rachel Parsons

Ativ Patel

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Samuel Mitchell Paulsen

Asuka Dewayne Payton

Christian Roger Blue Paz

Ruchita Pendse

Samuel Charles Pereda

Robert Patrick Perreira

Dahlia Michelle Perry

Jeffrey Thomas Persons

Giovanna Loren Petito

Elise Pham

Craig Leroy Bud Phelps

Pierce Bartley Philp

Aaron Phong

Carlo Manfredi Pio di Savoia

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Sierra Gail Pollock

Roberto Kensei Pregadio

Pascal Hikaru Purro

Andrew Wesley Pursifull

Mark Austin Radcliff

Micke Paul Ramirez

Timothy James Randall

Sean Christopher Rapp

Nikhil Kothur Reddy

Francesca Mia Reifer

Rebecca Gould Rempel

Alexander Gauvin Richardson

Nova Rivera

Jeanessa Chan Roa

Manuela Roa Gonzalez

Nicholas Matthew Robbins

Crystal Rocha

Dominique Tsoi Rockhold

Brielle Katherine Rowe

Arjun Roy

Joshua Keith-Hosea Roy

David Aguilar Ruiz

Alexander Chen Runke

Thomas Alan Rutner

Jonathan Sabado

Julius James Caberto Sana

Kamron Shawn Sarhadi

Elizabeth Noella Sarinas

Sarah Amani Sarrawi

Emilie Reed Schade

Emily Marie Schneider

Daniel Reid Scott

Anne Malena Seymour

Maya Karen Shaanan

Danni Shen

Joseph Shen

Tiffany Audrey Shen

Rebecca Shipper

Yelizaveta Shmatko

Samantha Naomi Sinclair

Vikram Sivaraja

Natalie Ann Skaff

Danielle Blake Smith

Rashawn Craig Smith

Jennifer Hye Mee So

Daniel Soldani

Adam Lloyd Spencley

Kevin Thomas Staatz

Jenna Louise Stanley

Robert Carlson Starling

Conner Mark Stearns

Devin William Stearns

Devon Andrew Steck

Aries Jerome Stevenson

Margaret Grace Stratton

Allison Campbell Sturges

Francis Minh Tran Sullivan

Charlotte Ann Swasey

Devin Alexander Swygert

Nichole Catherine Tabaska

Emi Takeda

Betty Tan

Cindy Tan

Korinne Briana Tarien

Robert Jeffrey Tate

Cassie Rae Taylor

Garrett Earl Taylor

Ruben Alexander Tejada

Cameron Tekiyeh

Todd Thompson

Keaton Charles Torok

Michael Massimo Torrano

Steven Tran

Conner William Treuhaft

Jocelyn E. Trigueros

Gino Mario Troian

Kevin Andrew Troxell

Wesley Chun Ho Tsoi

Cody Alexander Underwood

Julia Eloy Uribe

Mari Shizuko Uyeda

Jesus Valencia

Carlos Varelas Valencia

Alexandria D. Vargas

Sergio Daniel Vazquez

Michelle Jean Vella

Sarah Nicole Vivoli3

Mikaela Marie Volpicelli

Anh Tu Vuong

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Michael Billy Walter

Agnes Wang

James Satoru Watanabe

Amelia Victoria Wedel

Christopher Wright Welch

Sarah Kim Wells

Brent William Weyers

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Marcus Patrick White

Lillie Joy Wilkes

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