Name, city of residence:

Sara Bautista, Watsonville

Grade you started at MMS:

I started at MMS in third grade. 

What inspires you?

Nature

What is your favorite subject in school?

I am enjoying Engineering for Change. It’s a fun change of pace and I am excited for the upcoming hands-on projects which we will get to do.

If you had the power to change one thing in the world, what would it be?

I would like cats to be bigger; maybe the size of a medium dog.

If you could go anywhere, where would you go?

I have always wanted to visit Peru and Machu Picchu. It would also be nice to visit the Maya and Inca ruins.

Name one big challenge in your life right now:

Deciding where to go to college and figuring all of that out. There are all these moving parts right now, such as figuring out financial aid and how to tour colleges during COVID-19.

What is your dream job and why?

I would really rather not have a job and just focus on pursuing my hobbies. But if I had to choose, I would like to be a baker or own a bookshop, mostly something that would give me a source of income.

What are your three favorite things?

Reading, houseplants, and Dalgona coffee

Favorite book:

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. The book has so many film adaptations that I enjoy watching. I like seeing the different perspectives taken from the original book. It’s also a nice book to cuddle up and read on a rainy day.

What do you want to do after high school?

Go to college and graduate. I would like to explore my different hobbies more and see if I could do internships or summer programs with them. Even if they don’t pan out to careers I would like to explore more of my own interests. I want to make sure my life isn’t just scholastic but also balanced.

Something that you are proud of – and why:

I baked a really good cake for Valentine’s Day. It was the right amount of chocolate and very fluffy and flavorful. It took a few attempts to get the ratios right. I am also proud of my cookie recipe. I make them about once a month and they are really good.

Something that makes you smile:

I love seeing the sunrise. Typically, I see it because I was staying up late doing something I enjoyed, so it’s fun to see the sunrise. I also have a giant blanket that’s shaped like a tortilla and it brings me a lot of joy.

A favorite MMS memory – and why?

In middle school I really liked when we had to build outdoor shelters and I was never able to build one that lasted; mine would always fall down. Still, it was fun to spend a whole period outdoors and hanging out with my friends.

Top three most played songs on your favorite playlist:

“Achilles, Come Down” by Gangs of Youth

“Movement” by Hozier

“Teach Me How to Love” by Shawn Mendes

During quarantine what have you done to keep yourself busy, or for fun? Have you started new hobbies or anything interesting due to the pandemic?

I am crocheting myself a sweater and I also crocheted a sloth. I currently have a quarter of a sleeve and the whole body and I am really close to finishing it!

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Alumna Fiona Burgess (’20) interviewed Sara for this spotlight feature.

Fiona is currently an AmeriCorps service volunteer for the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, working to ensure equitable access to legal services. She is also an undergraduate student studying international relations and political science at Boston University.