5 Questions with Robert Nevarez
April 20, 2016
Robert Nevarez, 12, has been accepted and wait-listed to the Ivy League school Harvard and the prestigious private university Stanford. He shares how it felt to be wait-listed and gives insight to his future.
Q1: How does it feel to be wait-listed to an Ivy League like Harvard?
A1: “It’s a huge honor to be wait-listed to a school of that prestige and its something that I didn’t really anticipate,” Nevarez said. “I just kind of applied there because of the name, with a small hope of getting in there, but the fact that I made it on their wait list is a huge honor in itself. Whether or not they accept me, I feel really honored to be considered this far.”
Q2: What is your “dream” school and why?
A2: “I think my two dream schools, since I was a kid, have always been UCLA and Notre Dame, but they are definitely not the only schools I would consider going to,” Nevarez said. “I haven’t made a decision on where I want to attend, because I’m obviously still waiting for the wait list schools, and then I have three difficult decisions to make between UCLA, Notre Dame, and Duke. Any one of those schools could end up being my dream school; it is just what I choose to make of it.”
Q3: How long have you wanted to attend Harvard and Stanford?
A3: “Probably since the beginning of my high school career when I started talking to people who were actually going there [Harvard and Stanford],” Nevarez said. “It wasn’t something that I ever envisioned myself doing, because at the time I didn’t know that I would be considered by them to attend the school, but now that I reached this point it is something that I would gladly take the opportunity to do if I get accepted there.”
Q4: What school is better for your future career/degree?
A4: “I applied undeclared to all the schools, so I selected all the schools that I applied to based on the fact that they are all schools I would end up enjoying going to,” Nevarez said.
Q5: Where do you see yourself in ten years?
A5: “Probably in more school and probably pursuing a post graduate degree in whatever major I decide to pursue,” Nevarez said. “Right now I think my front runner major is political science but that is definitely not set in stone because a lot of the time majors change for people.”

“I wanted the untold stories to be told,” Picou said. “That was my goal for Newspaper.”
People in and out of Newspaper have recognized Picou’s passion.
“In my opinion, Sabrina is a responsible student and has a big future in writing ahead of her,” Jarred Aldaco said, 12.
Since joining Newspaper doors have opened for Picou, which allows her to express herself through her writing for a bigger audience. After writing an article on an exhibit at the Stay Gallery titled This Normal Life, Sabrina was offered an internship at the gallery. She now writes a blog for the Stay Gallery.
“My advice would be that life is always about risk,” Picou said.“If you never leap you’ll never know how far you’ll go.”
With the support of her friends and fellow students Picou hopes to inspire with her stories and tell the untold stories.

A day at school for junior, Bruno Braka, is not like every other student’s day, as he is involved in both Yearbook and Newspaper that fill three periods within his schedule. Not only is he involved with journalism, he also finds time to play lacrosse and help out at his parents’ restaurant.
“I never pictured myself being this involved all I was into was lacrosse,” Braka said. “But it all changed junior year when I decided to get involved with yearbook and newspaper, and although the year is just starting out I can already see myself being a lot more busy. The great thing about it is that I’m learning to manage my time wisely.”
Aside from his wide involvement with extra-curricular activities, Braka takes his school work very seriously. Throughout his high school career, he has managed to keep his GPA above a 4.0, taking not only regular college prep classes, but challenging himself with rigorous AP and honors courses.
Leonard Braka, Bruno’s father and owner of Ricci’s Italian Restaurant, has supported him through his busy schedule.
“It’s like I see Bruno grow more and more each day,” Braka said. “He manages to help me and his mother around the restaurant and still keeps his grades up. I’m surprised he finds the time to do all that he does.”
Braka has established many connections with a variety of people throughout his three years in high school. Dale Schlegel, one of the lacrosse coaches at Downey High School, had coached Braka throughout his freshman and sophomore years at Downey.
“Bruno was a great kid to have on the team,” Schlegel said,” the team rallied around him. He’s a real team player.”
Braka wants to make a difference within his school through his participation in school. He has immersed himself within journalism because he wants to capture moments that make others proud of their school. He also wants to serve as an example to others, by getting involved within his parent’s business, sports, and journalism. He hopes other will find, that truly, anything is possible.
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