Essay Question: What advice would you offer to a student just beginning his/her high school career?

If I could lend a word of advice to students, barely releasing their mother’s apron, and entering the sphere of high school I doubt they would listen but I would try nonetheless. I would say to them that their words now have meaning, and their actions now have consequence. No one may treat them like an adult, but no one may treat them as a child either. I would tell them that I know it is difficult, and I understand the frustration of their limbo social status, but I would tell them to try anyway, that it is not the quality of the content when all eyes are on them, but the quality of their heart that is important. I would tell them that it is important to be kind, and important to remain curious. I would say that although adults may look down on them for their awkward bodies and mannerisms that it is important to be the bigger person, because a time will come when you are in their shoes, where you’ve grown to look them in the eyes, and you pity them for being bitter, and disappointed at the world. It is important to experiment; do everything, no matter how nervous it makes you, and find what you are passionate about, so you can avoid the unfulfilling lives of hundred story cubicle workers. I would say, “Do your homework, kid, for the love of God.”, because as youth the future is a farce and seems so far off that no matter what you do, no matter how much homework you don’t turn in, those grades will never catch up with your college admission statements.

If I had to tell a high school freshmen one thing, I would tell them that they don’t have to be the best of their class, and they don’t need a 4.5 GPA, but I would tell them that they should strive to be the best that they can be, and to never let go of what makes them unique.

Name: Kaylee (Kyle) Fortner

Current School: CSU Fullerton

1. Tell us about yourself.

I am a recent graduate of Katella High School, and while there I would have described myself as a promoter of activism, and education on social, cultural, and otherwise topics. I greatly enjoy helping and representing the Environmental and LGBTQ+ communities. I also enjoy many stereotypical teenage adventures such as hiking, going to beach clean ups, going to antique stores, playing Elvis records loud enough to pester my neighbors, and making patches. I’m overly fond of the Lord of the Rings, and enjoy oddly pink sunsets with my friends.

1. What has been your best experience in school?

I would have to say all of my work on being a speaker and educator at the school about topics such as minority prejudice and transgender rights and discriminatory legislature presented in my high school’s annual TedTalk-like event, my junior year and senior year respectively. In this event I was able to reach approximately 700 students, parents, and faculty with a message of acceptance and understanding. I also really enjoyed being a member and social chair of my school’s new LGBTQ+ Club, which was created this last year, and helping create a system and structure within the club. I also really enjoyed the connections I was able to forge with many of my senior year teachers.

1. What influenced your choice in major?

I was heavily influenced by my environmental science course I took this last year. I have become deeply interested in work with the environmental sphere and hope to get a degree in environmental or related sciences to be able to assist and promote conservation of wildlife zones, and protect many flora and fauna species.

Before this course I thought I would never be able to do anything about the destruction of some many biomes, or save an entire species from extinction but after being exposed to so many people who decided that they could single handedly make a change I decided that it was very much possible for someone like myself, and that it was an overly worthy cause to pursue.

1. How do you envision yourself in 5 years?

In 5 years I picture myself being the first person in my family who has graduated college, and pursuing a career in environmental habitat restoration or conservation. Hopefully, being able to make at least a small difference within our global ecosystem. I would hope to maintain a connection to many of the people I know now and many people I have yet to meet.

I would also like to hopefully rent a house or live in a condo with a community garden so that my boyfriend can grow flowers to his heart’s content, and adopt, or house old dogs and cats from kill-shelters.

1. What do you hope to learn from your school experience?

I hope to learn bits and pieces of everything throughout my entire school experience. I hope to learn to become extremely confident within my public speaking abilities, and use school as an avenue to be more socially inclined, and meet a million more new people. I hope to learn more about history, and English, art, and science.

I believe that life is largely a learning experience, and what better place to learn a hundred new things than school?

1. What extracurricular activities do you enjoy?

Outside of school I largely enjoy botany, exploring, poetry, and attending LGBTQ+ events. I am largely interested in plants and their natural beauty, as well as adventuring to hiking areas, and meeting people along the way, and being able to hear their story and connect with them for a short time before I’m off again. I have a deep seeded love for slam poetry, and the work of Robert Frost. I try to go to community events as much as possible, and as often as they’re available because I thrive on the love, compassion, and unity within them.