Initially, I was drawn to the school's beautiful campus and ideal location. I was captivated by the strong science department, especially how the curriculum incorporates research in the Scientific Research class. Some of my favorite activities include studying abroad in Lima, Peru; volunteering at a clinic in the Los Angeles area; hosting exchange students; and interning at NASA's JPL and Stanford Medicine. My favorite classes have been Anatomy & Physiology, Honors Physics, and Scientific Research, and although I love science, the teachers have made the classes even more enjoyable! I plan to become a cardiothoracic surgeon or anesthesiologist. I love how boarding on campus feels similar to college life. It's helped me develop independence, communication skills, and a sense of exploration, and I enjoy forming connections with girls from all over the world. My advice to new boarding students: explore as many new opportunities as possible, take classes that excite you, ask questions, and immerse yourself in the experience and remember to find balance between academics and fun tailored to your goals.

I never understood what people meant when they described events as bittersweet until I found myself dressed in a long white graduation gown, walking down a red carpet to receive my high school diploma from Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy. The most valuable teachings I would take from my four years at FSHA were the ones taught without my knowledge, most of which were a result of simply being in an all girls' environment. I distinctly remember Sr. Carolyn urging my graduating class to trust that the teachings we received at FSHA would remain with us for a lifetime, and for that reason, we would never truly leave the Hill. Being educated in a school made up of confident, beautiful, intelligent women was a privilege for which I will be thankful for the rest of my life. In this safe space, I was able to understand and put into practice how an empowered, independent woman lives her life. After graduation, I attended UC Santa Barbara, and my experience at FSHA helped me to navigate the college with ease. My values and strong sense of self were so deeply engrained in my identity while at FSHA that I can focus on having a profound college experience without temptations. When I get nervous out here in this new, uncharted territory, I still twist my ever-present Junior Ring on my finger for comfort and confidence in myself, planted deep within me by my wonderful years at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy.

I am a member of the Sophomore Board and a Class Representative. I am an Ambassador, a member of the Aloha Kai Club, Student Mission Committee, Round Square, and I play volleyball and softball. My favorite spot on campus is Crane Field. It makes me feel on top of the world and the view is incredible, especially at night. My proudest accomplishment is mastering a second language by my sophomore year. My favorite class is biology, Dr. Krider is brilliant and the class is extremely engaging and super interesting! Flintridge Sacred Heart is always brimming with enthusiasm. It is a safe place to explore my passions, interests, and to become a woman of faith, integrity and truth. My advice to incoming students would be to familiarize yourself with the plethora of opportunities at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy so you can begin school being involved.

My proudest accomplishment so far is when our Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy soccer team made it to the Western States Championships and placed 3rd amongst teams from all across the Western United States. My favorite classes are English and ceramics. I like English because we always have fun and engaging class discussions on poetry or literature. I enjoy ceramics and making my ideas come to life through art. I love how welcoming everyone is and how easy it is to talk to people. The teachers are invested in all the students and really want us all to succeed. I have no doubt that Flintridge Sacred Heart has been the perfect fit for me. I'm very happy here.

The Junior Research Project and Senior Research Project were both pivotal points in my academic career. With the guidance of my research advisor, I was able to find a topic that resonated with me and highlighted an issue that was relevant in our world and could have a lasting impact on the way I perceive the world. I researched the stigma of maternal mental health and postpartum depression in America. I'm currently a junior at Scripps College, and this past spring I declared a dual major in Asian-American studies and biology, which was largely influenced by my exposure to Asian-American studies in my JRP research. I am currently studying abroad in Stockholm, Sweden, and have been given the opportunity to conduct research with a researcher at Karolinska Institutet, how I got that opportunity is all thanks to my SRP. FSHA's Research Program broadened my perspective of what issues are prevalent in our society as well as broadened my perspective of what I was interested in. I'm absolutely grateful that I was given so many tools for success before entering college.

There is something very special and unique about going to an all-girls high school like Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy. I can genuinely say that I have never felt as comfortable and welcome in my entire life as I did at FSHA. The support, the solicitude, and the sisterhood will all stay with me forever. Being surrounded by an all-girls community also pays off in the classroom. I certainly would not have been as open and unrestrained with my questions in class if I had gone to a co-ed high school. At FSHA, when you are surrounded by a classroom of your peers, of girls who support you and better you, with teachers who encourage your creativity, there is nothing that can hold you back and nothing that can suppress your imagination. I became aware that a curious mind is a brilliant mind. However, the most valuable part of an all-girls education is, without a doubt, the community. FSHA was a place that felt like home to me. I formed deep, life-long friendships, I got to know so many extraordinary young women, and I had inspiring teachers that genuinely cared about my education and my future. Never in a million years would I have had the confidence to give a live 'TED Talk'-like presentation, as I hate speaking in front of crowds, but with the support of my advisor, I faced my fears and accomplished something that I am very proud of.

I'm on the cross country and track and field teams at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy. I'm also a board member of the DREAM (Disability, Rights, Education Activism, and Mentoring) affinity group on the Hill. I'm very proud of becoming a nationally recognized disabled athlete — sports and advocacy go together, and I love teaching the Flintridge Sacred Heart community about adaptive competitive sports. Being a disabled person, I have struggled with self-confidence in the past, and now, with the community I've found on the Hill, I have realized my worth as a resilient person. Resilient, altruistic, and determined — that's how my friends describe me. My advice to anyone applying here: be yourself and don't be scared to — let your true self shine!

I am grateful for the Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy's Junior and Senior Research Project, I'm glad that I was required to participate in such a rigorous research program. At first, most of my friends and I were very intimidated, but it was organized and broken into several steps that allowed us to learn how to research, cite and write our papers effectively. I am attending the University of Colorado Boulder and plan on majoring in marketing. Having completed both JRP and SRP at FSHA, it was easy to think of a topic and find reliable sources for my college papers. Many people in my class seemed nervous and overwhelmed, but because of the rigorous writing expectations FSHA had, I was well prepared. Not only can I produce an annotated bibliography, outline or essay faster than before, it is easy for me. My own SRP even helped me realize I had an interest in graphics and design, which led me to look into marketing as a major. The JRP and SRP acted as training camps for the real thing, it was most definitely worth it.

I have played volleyball and basketball at FSHA. I realize the impact that playing sports at FSHA has had on my growth. Being involved in and committed to sports has helped me achieve a level of confidence that I definitely did not have walking in freshman year. Sports are fun, but they do require responsibility, perseverance and discipline — the grind never stops, as practices, games and tournaments can take up lots of time. There were times when I was exhausted and didn't want to get up in the morning, but having my teammates and friends there with me made it that much easier. The athletes on my teams have become some of my best friends — I met three of my best friends playing basketball. Being an athlete at FSHA has taught me the importance of hard work, discipline, determination and teamwork, and the benefits of being a student-athlete here have been life-changing for me and are where some of my best memories in my life were made.

My Senior Research Project adventure began the summer before my senior year. I sparked an interest in the culture of hair in African American communities and how it affects African American women. Being an African American girl, this topic was very personal to me. I am a light skinned, half black, half Salvadorian girl with very curly hair, and in the beginning of high school I was very self-conscious and insecure about my hair. Over the years, I have grown to love my hair; I am now very proud of every strand I grow. I wanted to get a hands-on experience with other African American women to hear their thoughts about curly hair and their hair in particular, so I decided to create podcasts and interviewed African American girls at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, girls from my soccer team, and a few others. I had an amazing experience with my Senior Research Project. I found something that I was passionate about, and I think that the SRP is an amazing opportunity that our school provides. It allows girls to explore new ways of learning and add new experiences to their tool belts.

As a rising junior at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy we started the Armenian Club at FSHA. After visiting Armenia that year I felt more attached to my homeland, more connected, passionate and eager to bring it all back with me to America and my community. We are a nation of strong, resilient people who fight for what we believe in until the end. The Armenian Genocide has sparked an eternal fire in my people and in me. In this way, I am a voice for my people in my community. FSHA is about Veritas and community, and these are at the core of the Armenian Club— seeking truth and working together as a community to achieve it.

I'm involved in Environmental Science and NSHSS. My favorite spot on campus is the library, where you could rest, work or just read when we have long lunches. My proudest accomplishment is that I was invited to USAD last year and got a silver medal in the final round as an individual. I love programming since we basically have the whole class to explore on our own and receive 1 on 1 sessions when needed. As a resident student, I love all the boarding outings, and some of them could also be joined by day students. My advice for someone applying: enjoy your freshman year, because I enjoyed mine.

My proudest accomplishment so far is receiving the Veritas Scholarship and attending Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy. My favorite class is English because I enjoy interpreting texts as a class and sharing my own perspective and learning about others' in class discussions. I love the community at Flintridge Sacred Heart, all of the faculty/staff have made themselves available to me if I ever need help and I truly feel like I have sisters on the Hill. 

My favorite spot on campus is my room in the residence hall because the environment of our dorm is clean, nice and like home, and the faculty are kind and friendly. It's fun for everyone to live in the dormitory, share food together, chat and watch movies, and there are many fun activities we can participate in on weekends. My proudest accomplishment is that I came to study in America by myself. My favorite class is religion because I can learn about different cultures and customs, and we talk about different world views, which is very interesting. I love the people and teachers here. Chatting with my friends brings me a lot of joy.