Name, city of residence:
Mariah Cohen, Corralitos
Grade you started at MMS:
Preschool
What inspires you?
I look up to my dad. He deals with a lot every day with work and he still finds time to be with his family and be a good role model for his children. His work in the organic food industry inspires me to make better food choices and care about my health. Also, his work ethic and skills as an entrepreneur motivate me to be the best version of myself, to go out in the world and make it my own.
What is your favorite subject in school, and why?
My favorite subject is probably math because I’ve always liked being able to sit with a problem and work with it until I get an answer. I like having definitive answers, and math is one of the few subjects that can give me that. It’s not always easy, but that’s what I like about it. Also, a lot of the kids in my class are very STEM-oriented, and I like doing challenging math problems with them because we make it fun and sort of like a game.
If you had the power to change on thing in the world, what would it be?
I would make all of our energy sources green. I was raised to care for the environment and treat it not only like it was my home, but like it is the home of plants and animals, too, because it is. It makes me really sad to see animals losing their homes and us destroying our planet. I do my best to keep our environment clean, but I know there are bigger things causing bigger impacts, and fuel and energy are part of this.
If you could anywhere, where would you go, and why?
I want to go to Australia to see the Great Barrier Reef and help restore it. I have always cared about the ocean and the animals that live in it, and I want to help save them. I also really want to try Vegemite.
Name one big challenge in your life right now:
College decisions are a really big challenge in my life right now. I’ve gotten into some schools that I would be really happy to go to and I’m excited about, but I still have a lot more decisions to make. I have to decide if I want to stay on the West Coast or move to the East, what I want to study, if I want a big city or a small town, etc. I’m also preparing myself for leaving my family and friends for a while, and that’s been difficult.
What is your dream job and why?
I have a few dream jobs, but one of my tops is a marine biologist mixed with an animal care specialist. I love animals, and it would be amazing to be able to spend time with them while getting paid. The ocean has always calmed me and made me feel better when I’m down, and I want to spend the rest of my life with it.
What are your three favorite things?
Music, animals and friends and family
What do you want to do after high school?
I want to go to college and get a bachelor’s degree in some kind of science, probably biology. I plan to go to graduate school, but that idea may change in the future.
Something that you are proud of – and why:
I am proud of our varsity team for winning the 2019 California State Volleyball Championship. Being able to experience something so emotional and impressive as a freshman really makes me appreciate being at Mount Madonna School, because I’m not sure I would’ve have that opportunity elsewhere.
I am proud of getting into Northeastern and the University of California, Los Angeles. I wasn’t expecting to get in when I applied, I was just applying on the off chance that I’d get in, but seeing the “Congratulations!” in my inbox made me so happy. I feel like everything I’ve done in school is finally worth it, and I can wholeheartedly say I’m proud of myself for all I’ve done.
Something that makes you smile:
My pets. I love walking my dogs, Sierra and Jasper, at Seascape Beach at sunset. They always make sure I have a fun time running around with them. My cat, Lila, is the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen and when she curls up in my lap and falls asleep, I can’t help but smile. My cat Blue’s purr alone is enough to make me smile, but he also likes to lay down on his back with all four paws in the air for belly rubs, and that melts my heart.
A favorite MMS memory – and describe why:
One of my favorite memories at school is going down to the lake with my teammates at team bonding. I had a lot of fun splashing each other and pushing each other off the plank. Some of my favorite memories have been with my teammates from school, and I feel so lucky to have met them.
The three most-played songs on your favorite playlist:
“April Come She Will” by Simon and Garfunkel, “Painkillers” by Rainbow Kitten Surprise and “Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright” by Bob Dylan
