Class of 2025

Bailey

Name of high school you plan to attend: Oregon City High School

What is something you have learned about yourself at Marylhurst that you will take with you when you leave?

To be forever creative in anything I'm doing, in school as well as outside of school. To be an explorer of my surroundings, to be curious about the unknown, and brave enough to explore it. Lastly, to be a citizen of generosity and action to exemplify an open mind to all opinions and perspectives. 

Tell us about your Leadership and Legacy project:

For my Leadership and Legacy project, my first proposal was to film myself making an art project. That proposal was too simplistic for such a largely expected yearlong project, so I pivoted to something that landed far over expectations. By diving deeper into the art of film, I’ve created a multi-leveled, highly skilled, time inducing, more than a year long, project. And I don't regret most of it. My project was to film a movie through stop motion, which meant writing a script, editing film by collaboration, taking LONG nights to their max, and spending meticulous hours to get from one side of a frame to the other.  

Tell us about your favorite Marylhurst memory:

My favorite Marylhurst memory is of the clay trade from my 1st grade year, when I was in Sparrows and had the most wonderful elementary school teachers in all my years. My best regards to Hanna and Jessica. I have this memory of a gloomy, rainy, cold recess at the Mt. Pleasant building past the swings, over between the geo dome and four-person teeter totter, where the mud grew thickest and plentiful. We all had those old metal trowels and were digging trenches to carry the water, then someone would hit clay, and people would crowd around, we’d pass it around and inspect it. We would treat that clay how the gold diggers treat gold. Like priceless dirt. 

What advice would you give younger students?

  • Who you are now does not define who you will become. 

  • As you grow older, the societal pressures of perfection increase, you must remember you can ALWAYS ask for help, no matter how heavy the pressure. 

  • Be respectful to teachers and peers even if you don't agree. 

  • If you ever disagree, (whether you REALLY disagree, or it's just a casual disagreement) DON'T ARGUE, it's pointless and only provokes others to argue back. Seriously, what do you people think you’ll get with arguing? If you disagree, try to graciously present your own perspective, or ask inquiring questions, not DEMANDING, but simple questions for clarity. 

  • Homework is NOT a CHORE or something holding you back. If you catch yourself thinking about it that way then do your best to stop it. Homework is intended, and should be viewed as, a tool. A tool to prompt thinking, a TOOL FOR YOU to use. 

  • If you ever get stuck on a reflection question, (and believe me you will) then write about why you feel stuck, it's still a reflection.

Alice

Name of high school you plan to attend: Gladstone High School

What is something you have learned about yourself at Marylhurst that you will take with you when you leave:

I have learned that I really don't like it when people are talking to me and expecting an answer when I don't feel like talking in any way.

Tell us about your Leadership and Legacy project:

For my Leadership & Legacy project I’m making a cookbook for the Marylhurst Herons so if they need to bake for class they don't have to google anything because they just have a book right within reach. Also, so they don't over add salt

Tell us about your favorite Marylhurst school memory: 

My favorite Marylhurst School memory is when last year, Ahimsa got stuck on the tree stump and Leif had to help get him off of it

What advice would you give younger students?: Get your work done properly and on time. Try being optimistic, because being pessimistic isn't fun. You want to have fun while learning, not the other way around.

Guy

High School: Tigard High School.

What is something you have learned about yourself at Marylhurst that you will take with you when you leave?

Coding is a lot more fun than it seems and quite complicated as well. It’s very eye opening to think that  there’s five lines but instead it’s 50.

Tell us about your Leadership and Legacy project:

My Leadership and Legacy project was making a tabletop game. Each level, players battle different criminals to clean up BA-- Brick Angles.

Tell us about your favorite Marylhurst memory:

My favorite memory was during the Read-a-thon while comfortably in a fort.

What advice would you give younger students:

Respect the teachers and do your homework early.

Noelle

Name of the high school you plan to attend: Rex Putnam High School

What is something you have learned about yourself at Marylhurst that you will take with you when you leave?

At Marylhurst, I have learned tolerance. At Marylhurst, you must learn to collaborate with everyone. Over my three years in middle school, I think I can officially say, I have been paired up with everyone in the class. Being able to work with anyone is key to going to school here. Tolerance is a very helpful trait to have, in high school moving forward, and just in life. I have had lots of practice with that here, and I have eventually mastered that skill.

Tell us about your Leadership and Legacy project:

My Leadership and Legacy project was making a poetry anthology of personal poems. Most of the poems were written during my eighth-grade year, but I included a couple from sixth and seventh grades. I then edited them with Brennan Staffieri, my mentor, and formatted them into a book. 

Tell us about your favorite Marylhurst memory:

It really is impossible to think of just one. Barn School during the pandemic was pretty great. Another one is walking around the track in second grade. Second grade was a really good year, we had some awesome people in our class that year, not gonna name names, but everyone I know now from that year is amazing; love you guys so much. 

What advice would you give younger students?

I would say, most of all, enjoy your time here. I totally get it, there will always be things you absolutely hate, but the time will go by so much quicker than you think. Find as much joy as you can in everyday life. Also, don’t choose a high school given the people that go there or don’t go there; test out a variety of schools, even the ones you swear you won’t go to, they just might surprise you. Choose whichever school feels right, no matter who is or isn’t there. 

Josie

Name of high school you plan to attend: Oregon City High School

What is something you have learned about yourself at Marylhurst that you will take with you when you leave?

Something I have learned about myself at Marylhurst is that if I can find a balance between letting things go, and advocating for myself, it’s more beneficial to myself and my community, and that balance is something I will look for everywhere I go.

Tell us about your Leadership & Legacy Project;

My Leadership and Legacy Project is painting a 4x16’ mural depicting a scene on the Clackamas River, consisting only of native plants, animals, and mythical creatures we know to make up the beautiful state of Oregon. The design was original, but many aspects were inspired by artwork made by the entire school, after students watched a slideshow I put together explaining the project. The entire process consisted of planning, budgeting, designing, scaling, tracing, prepping, painting, and finalizing, which are all things my mentor, William Hernandez, has guided me through.

I will be mounting the mural to leave behind as my legacy aspect, and my written component will be a hand painted plaque acknowledging everyone who helped me get an end result. I hope this mural enhances whatever space it’s brought into, and helps people recognize the beauty of our state, and nature itself. 

Tell us about your favorite Marylhurst memory:

My favorite Marylhurst memory is from second grade, when Bailey, Noelle, and I would play in the little house with the red roof. (Noelle– I’m sorry we made you stand in the corner and be the music box, we love you) 

It’s really special that I get to graduate with the same people I used to make mud pies with. 

What advice would you give younger students?

Hi younger students! 

Middle school might seem like the end of the world, but I promise there are good moments. Don’t forget to cut yourself, the teachers, and that one kid (you know who I mean) some slack, and remember that everyone is trying their best.