Ilana N.
About Me
Hello! I’m Ilana, a full-time junior at Stanford OHS. I have many, many interests, so you can find me spending my free time on anything from baking and research, to CrossFit and mountain biking. I aspire to be someone who gives back to my community on a local and global scale, and I think this is reflected in my extracurriculars. For example, I love baking because I love eating sweets and because I think gifting baked goods is a great way to bring happiness to others. I am also a co-executive director at Innoverge, a nonprofit dedicated to bringing interdisciplinary STEMx education to youth from underserved communities. I have done a lot of work at the intersection of technology and wellbeing in order to help my peers – who I often see struggling with social media and self-worth. On this topic, I’ve spread awareness through my TEDx talk (Teens, Technology, and the Antidote) and done research through my fellowship with Headstream Innovation. The last couple of things I do in my free time are bonding with my family and taking care of my physical wellness by running, weightlifting, and biking. I would say that Stanford OHS is a large part of the reason why I am who I am, and I am excited for my future at Stanford OHS and beyond.
Why I Chose Stanford OHS
I chose Stanford OHS for a multitude of reasons, including academics, students, staff, and the schedule. My story is a bit unusual, as I applied as a 7th grader while at a brick-and-mortar parochial school, seeking extra enrichment in math. I took Honors Geometry with Dr. Nikzad in 8th grade. When it came time to choose a high school to go to, I realized that I wanted to go to Stanford OHS full-time because of the rigor of the curriculum, the friendships I made, and the community I felt. Three years in, I am very sure that I made the right choice, as I am able to take university-level courses in science and math and I have an amazing network of friends throughout the whole school. I am planning to graduate from Stanford OHS in 2022 and I am confident that I will be prepared for what lies ahead. I often hear alumni say that the rigor of their classes in a high school equipped them to excel in college, and I think that is very true. Besides academics, Stanford OHS has allowed me to pursue a lot of opportunities that would not have been possible if I went to brick-and-mortar high school. I had the honor of giving a TED talk at TEDxOakland in 2019, only because the organizer was impressed with me when he first met me at a conference called UCOT (Unintended Consequences Of Technology) that was held during the day on a Tuesday. I only had two classes on Tuesdays, so I emailed my teachers and attended a different section of those classes on Monday, so I didn’t miss any class time and was able to attend the conference. Later, when I was the youngest of three inaugural fellows for Headstream Innovation’s youth fellowship program, I was able to attend meetings and do work/research during the workday, since my classes only met for an hour and fifteen minutes, two days a week. Not to mention, when the Covid-19 pandemic hit, I was able to continue rigorous coursework despite all the changes around me (with support and understanding of the life changes, of course). Overall, I will repeat myself in saying that choosing Stanford OHS as my high school was one of the best decisions of my life and I would not have it any other way.
What I Love About Stanford OHS
I’ve been going to Stanford OHS for three years now, and I continually find more things I love about it. The academic and social environment here is without a doubt, the best I have ever experienced. A lot of my teachers have Phds and are very knowledgeable in their fields (when I first started going to Stanford OHS, calling my teachers “Dr.” took some getting used to!). In addition to their expertise, they always have an open door to their students and on many occasions, I have dropped into one of my instructors’ office hours to talk about my interests or just life in general. I have found the curriculum itself to go extremely deep into the subject matter. A lot of the courses touch on college-level subjects, or in some cases, they are college-level classes. Since it is a flipped-classroom model, there is less time in class, and the time we do spend in the (online) classroom is always enriching and engaging. Another thing I love about the academic community here is that my peers are just as motivated and intellectually curious as I am. I am continuously challenged and inspired by my classmates both in and outside of class. The environment is very collaborative, as there is a strong network of peer tutors and TAs (Teaching Assistants). I have also found a strong social community at Stanford OHS, which sometimes comes as a surprise to people since we are online. At this school, I feel a sense of belonging and community that I have never felt anywhere else. And although my friends sometimes live hundreds or thousands of miles away, I feel I have formed strong bonds with them because they feel like “my people.” My conversations with them go from having fun while singing karaoke to having deep discussions about the origins of knowledge or the meaning of life. I met a lot of my friends through in-person events like Summer @ Stanford, MIT Splash, and Graduation weekend, as well as through classes, clubs, and online social activities. At Stanford OHS, I feel encouraged to advance in my academic and extracurricular pursuits and I also feel valued as a person. I am so glad I found this community and am grateful for all the people who make it so special.