Off to College: Class of 2016

On May 1, the Class of 2016 reunited on Zoom for their Off to College Reunion. Nearly 60 alumni attended the event for the chance to reconnect with classmates, faculty and administrators. Later in the evening, parents of the Class of 2016 had fun at their own reunion catching up with old friends.

EMMA CADENA ’16

Mayfield Senior School | University of California, Santa Cruz

Chandler’s rigor greatly prepared me for the workload and skills required to juggle Mayfield’s honors track, athletics and instrumental programs. As Chandler prepared me to understand different perspectives, Mayfield refined them and showed me the power that an educated female can have in a class, on a field, and a stage. Chandler’s emphasis on empowering women in STEM significantly impacted my confidence in choosing Molecular Cellular and Developmental Biology as my major. Mr. Cal’s molecular biology elective and Mr. Korn’s woodworking elective helped me become an unapologetic-curious female in science. My dream is to become a researcher-scientist capable of helping others to understand what is happening to them at a cellular level.

Currently, I am taking a race/ethics class and the discussion reminded me of the critical thinking Mrs. Laird and Mrs. Dretzka required in English class. I truly owe a lot of thanks to Mr. Korn. He was the first coach that believed in me enough to encourage me to run. His kind presence in my life gave me the confidence to commit to running at UC Santa Cruz.

As I write this, I am living, training and studying with my team, who are becoming my second family. My team shares a love for music, nature, activism and science; I am so happy to surround myself with friends who love the same passions. Mayfield helped turn me into the student and runner I am today, but Chandler created many of those pathways.

LANGDON DEARBORN ’16

The Webb Schools &

La Canada High School | University of Southern California

From 8th Grade at Chandler to freshman year at a challenging private boarding school, the transition was seamless. During high school, I was freshman class president, played a lead in two musical theatre productions, participated in the pit band for Mamma Mia!, sang in Hawai’i and France with a touring choir, played in orchestra and jazz band, and started a rock band, among other things. During quarantine, my band was able to play 125 social-distanced serenades all around Los Angeles, raising money while promoting safety and social distancing. Eventually, we were able to donate over 25,000 meals to families affected by poverty and COVID-19.

From Chandler, I most appreciated the loving faculty and the high standards they set. Current Chandler students, if you put your teachers’ advice to practice, the constant messages about being respectful, caring, and kind will distinguish you and give meaning to your pursuit of success and fulfillment.

For the next four years, I’ll be pursuing USC’s Music Production degree. I’m hopeful for the relationships I’m building with those who share my interests and the professional skills I’m developing with yet another group of caring and committed faculty.

My band, Rose Avenue, released our original album on September 25. It’s been my passion project for nearly two years now, and if you’d like to check it out, you can find it at roseaveband. com. Feel free to email me at langdondearbornmusic@gmail.com as well if you’d like to share your thoughts or get in touch!

KIRA FARMER ’16

Harriton High School, Pennsylvania | Carleton College

Going to Chandler was incredibly helpful as I started high school. The school was academically-rigorous and competitive, and I wouldn’t have kept up with my peers and thrived without everything I learned at Chandler. For example, I felt comfortable going to my teachers when I needed help or extra practice since the same interaction was encouraged while I was at Chandler.

My extracurriculars consisted of four years of basketball and softball. I also participated in a club called the National Society of Black Engineers, which focused on STEM-related activities. Outside of school, I interned at an organization called SquashSmarts in North Philadelphia for two summers. As an intern, I helped high schoolers and middle schoolers with their academics.

At Chandler, I loved how close a relationship everyone had with each other since we were a smaller student body. Also, spirit week was always a blast! To current Chandler students, don’t be afraid to reach out to your teachers when you need help; they want you to succeed! And take opportunities to try new things while you’re there, like an elective that’s out of your comfort zone.

My intended major as of right now is English, but I still have a year to figure out if that will be my path. I hope that I gain a greater understanding of the world, learn more about myself, stay on top of my workload, and take the time to explore and have some fun.

The Class of 2016 has enrolled in these colleges and more

American University California Lutheran University Carleton College Case Western Reserve University Claremont McKenna College Colorado College Cornell University Duke University Emory University Georgetown University Loyola Marymount University Mount Saint Mary's University New York University Northeastern University Northwestern University Occidental College Pomona College Princeton University Santa Clara University Sarah Lawrence College Smith College Texas Christian University The University of Chicago University of California, Berkeley University of California, Davis University of California, Los Angeles University of California, San Diego University of California, Santa Barbara University of California, Santa Cruz

University of Connecticut University of Michigan University of Oregon University of Pennsylvania University of Southern California Vanderbilt University Vassar College Washington University in St. Louis Wesleyan University

Phillips Academy Andover | Georgetown University

The educational philosophies of Chandler and Andover aligned well—the importance of curiosity, a passion for learning, an in-depth curriculum, and academic rigor. What I carried with me from Chandler was my teachers’ passion for learning, which was contagious and made me enjoy school. I am incredibly grateful to the teachers who pushed me outside of my comfort zone, encouraged me to try new things, supported me, and taught me what it means to be a good person. Without a doubt, I can say that I am where I am today because of the guidance, support, and inspiration of my Chandler teachers.

I strongly encourage Chandler students to be excited about where you are and what you’re doing. Chandler has a lot to offer and every student should take advantage of that. I tried to follow my own advice in high school—as captain of the varsity swimming and cycling teams, a student government member, and a peer tutor. I was also a proctor in the school’s first all-gender dorm, where we built an openminded and accepting community. You never know when you’ll come across opportunities that shape your experience and forge meaningful, lasting friendships.

I plan to major in government at Georgetown, potentially with a minor in Russian. But long before the pandemic began, I wanted to take some time to gain real-world experience—and, what a year to venture into the real world! I feel fortunate to be working for Congressman Seth Moulton. I hope that this gap year and my continued educational journey will continue to reinvigorate my outlook on the world.

FRANCISCO SALINAS ’16

Loyola High School | Santa Clara University

Chandler did a fantastic job of helping me develop the skills necessary to become independent and disciplined throughout high school. Talking with teachers came easy because I had already developed that level of confidence and accountability from Chandler.

I was heavily involved in community service throughout high school, which was a passion that Chandler introduced me to early on. My brother and I led eleven service trips down to Tijuana, Mexico, to build homes for families in need. We spent three weeks living at a shelter on Skid Row, serving the homeless population of Los Angeles.

I graduated cum laude from Loyola High School and was recognized by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles for my commitment to service. In addition, I received my Eagle Scout Award.

What I most appreciated about Chandler was the variety of opportunities available to me as a student to discover new interests. STEAM projects and the many STEM-oriented electives, helped me find my passion for technology and engineering.

The many non-academic related activities that Chandler offered helped me strengthen relationships with my peers and teachers, which greatly benefitted my academic performance. Many teachers I had were committed to challenging their students, which was matched by their compassion and care outside the classroom.

My advice for current students: Force yourself to try activities outside of your comfort zone. The earlier you discover your interest, the more time you’ll have to gain experience and invest in your future.

I am currently majoring in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Santa Clara University, and I am grateful for all the opportunities that Chandler has provided me. Loyola High School | Loyola Marymount University

Outside of running cross-country and writing for the newspaper, I was heavily involved with Loyola’s community service program. I spent a large amount of time with the student-run service leadership team while also leading a home-building project in Mexico four times a year. During my senior year, I received “The Archdiocese of Los Angeles Christian Service Award,” which is given to three students in the graduation class of Catholic schools across L.A. County. I received this award alongside another student and my brother, Francisco.

Beyond the challenging material during my middle school years, Chandler’s academic rigor gave me an advantage by placing me into Honors Geometry beginning freshman year, compared to most students taking Algebra 1. I am also very fond of the STEM projects during middle school. Not only were they the most memorable activities from my Chandler experience, but also helped build a closer bond with teachers too — something I didn’t realize until the reunions and alumni visits. To Chandler students, I would recommend that you not be afraid to explore your passions academically, athletically, and artistically. From my experience, high school is much more enjoyable if you have a wide dictionary of interests that you can grow upon.

Currently, I am undecided but plan on studying towards a major in computer science or mechanical engineering. I am hopeful that I can continue reconnecting with former teachers and faculty that have helped me achieve the educational status that I enjoy today.

ANNA MARTINEZ-YANG ’16

Harvard-Westlake School | Washington University in St. Louis

I believe Chandler prepared me very well for high school. Transitioning to Harvard-Westlake from Chandler, I felt I had cultivated all the necessary skills like time management and effective learning strategies.

At Harvard-Westlake, I was the co-president of the Asian Students in Action (ASiA) club on campus. My most significant commitment outside of school is my lab work at UCLA regarding disease pathology of neurodegenerative diseases. I am a student researcher tasked with conducting various lab procedures, much of which I started learning about in Chandler, like Gel Electrophoresis and PCR.

As I think back on my Chandler experience, I most appreciated the tight-knit community. My most vivid memory is Mr. Finch waiting by the tower each morning to greet every student walking onto campus. I also truly appreciated the outstanding teachers who cared for every student. To current Chandler students, I hope you make the most out of your Chandler experience and cultivate friendships that continue into high school and beyond. I would also encourage you to talk to your teachers often because they truly know best, and you might never have such a dedicated, one-on-one learning experience elsewhere.

I am currently planning on double majoring in Neuroscience and Computer Science. I am most excited to finally tailor a schedule best suited to my interests and dive into undergraduate research of my own. I also can’t wait to get closer to the amazing professors on campus, albeit socially distanced or on Zoom.