In this episode of FISD’s The Podcast, hosts Kelsey Golz and Dayna Owen interview Friendswood High School's 2024 Valedictorian, Jenny Chen, and Salutatorian, Sebastian Leiman. They share tips on study habits, time management, and achieving balance while excelling academically. Jenny and Sebastian also reflect on their sources of inspiration, contributions to the school community, and memorable high school moments, offering valuable advice for students navigating their own academic paths. Join the conversation for insights and practical guidance from these accomplished students.
In this episode of FISD’s The Podcast, hosts Kelsey Golz and Dayna Owen interview Friendswood High School's 2024 Valedictorian, Jenny Chen, and Salutatorian, Sebastian Leiman. They share tips on study habits, time management, and achieving balance while excelling academically. Jenny and Sebastian also reflect on their sources of inspiration, contributions to the school community, and memorable high school moments, offering valuable advice for students navigating their own academic paths. Join the conversation for insights and practical guidance from these accomplished students.
Speaker 1 Is retiring. And I just assume that you'll have missed the last four plus. Speaker 2 Correct? Yes. Okay. Speaker 1 I go ahead on this Westerfield or you just have had Miss Gillespie. I've had this semester. Oh, you have? You've had. Okay. So this young woman has just in this case, you think? Yeah, I know. And I didn't I don't know if y'all know this, but she was the salutatorian of Friendswood High School whenever she went there. Did you know that? Speaker 3 I think she just mentioned it once. Speaker 1 She mentioned it? Yeah. And then she. I met her. She was a long term sub at our high school before she got her teaching sort of a certification and then went into teaching. So I thought that was a little interesting factoid about Miss Gillespie. A couple of my boys had her and absolutely loved her. But okay, so let's get started. Speaker 1 Welcome to season three, Episode 15 of Feisty, the podcast where Kelsey goals. That's me and Dana. Owen That's me. Have the pleasure of interviewing interesting people and discussing anything and everything. Friendswood Esty So today we've invited our Friendswood High School 2024 valedictorian and salutatorian. Welcome. Speaker 4 That deserves an award there. Unknown That's an accomplishment. Along with our class. Yes. Speaker 1 Yes, yes, yes. Let it be known for the record that if I were given the word salutatorian for the spelling bee and I lose, I'd be invited to walk off the stage. I don't know. I would have put a D in salutatorian instead of a T, Did ya know how to spell valedictorian as salutatorian? Tell the children Yes. Speaker 4 Tell the truth. You know. Speaker 1 I think everything. Speaker 2 Accepted that. Speaker 4 No, I think I told them this when they walked in. I literally was typing the word salutatorian and misspelled it for this episode. Speaker 1 So I know what you'll say. Yes, but I want to put you on the spot. Sebastian, I need you to spell salutatorian. Speaker 3 Okay. As alutat0ria and you got it. Speaker 4 What? Speaker 2 Jerry? Yeah. My response would have been the same. Speaker 1 You you got it. Okay, well, so today we need to welcome salutatorian Sebastian Leman and valedictorian Ginny Chin. So glad you're here, Sebastian. I'm going to have you kick us off. Tell us a little bit about yourself. Kind of tell us who you are, who is Sebastian, and where you're heading next year. Speaker 3 Okay. I was born in Indiana, in West Lafayette. I lived there for two and a half years, and then I moved to Switzerland. There, my brother was born. We lived there for eight years and then I moved to Friendswood at the start of the fifth grade where I've lived here ever since. Speaker 1 Although before you move on, you had to go from Switzerland to Texas was awful. Was that. Speaker 2 Depressing? I mean, at that. Speaker 1 Age, do you even know, like, Wow, I just lost last the most beautiful place in the world or come to not the most beautiful place in the world? Speaker 3 No, I. Speaker 1 Know. Speaker 4 No. The armpit of the United States. Speaker 1 No, we are not. The the United States. Speaker 2 Was. Speaker 1 Louisiana. But yeah, it's not I would not say it's up there with Switzerland now. Speaker 4 So what part of Switzerland? I'm going the summer. Speaker 3 Close to Geneva. Speaker 4 Okay, we're going to. I don't I'm hope I'm pronouncing that correctly, but Lucerne. Speaker 3 Yeah. Speaker 4 Interlochen. Yeah. They're not saying those right now in this crazy economy. So I. Speaker 3 Mean, one of the towns is French and the other one, I'm pretty sure is a German River. So the German league, I mean, so I, uh, it's Lucerne and the I don't know how to speak German. Speaker 4 So obviously I will not be able to pronounce it. Okay. So I keep saying it wrong, but. Speaker 1 No, sorry. It continues. So you look different. Speaker 3 Yes. So then next year I'll be going to UT-Austin. I'll be studying computational engineering competition. Computational. Speaker 1 Computational. Okay. Speaker 4 Um, that's very exciting of you. Do you want to tell us a little bit about yourself and where you're heading next year? Speaker 2 Yeah. I'm also going to u T, and I'm going for a computer science also. Yeah. Speaker 1 So where do you see yourself? So you're at UT, you're involved in your getting your degree. Do you see yourself going on to get your masters with what you want to do? And then in ten years, where do you see yourself working? Speaker 3 Um, I hope to get a graduate degree after. Speaker 1 Okay. Speaker 3 I mean, it depends if I find an opportunity right after I get my bachelor's, but most likely I'm going to get my graduate degree and maybe work as a professor afterwards. Speaker 1 Okay? Speaker 3 But it all. Speaker 1 Depends on you're wanting to have your degree to be a professor. Speaker 3 Yeah. Yeah. Speaker 1 Okay. Jenny, how about you? Speaker 2 I there's a five year master's degree program for computer Science u t, and so I want to do that and then go into the workforce and after a little bit, come back and get my MBA somewhere. Speaker 1 Okay, So now where do you what do you see yourself doing in ten years? Speaker 2 I will, hopefully. So. Right now I have an internship at Lockheed Martin, so I would like to stay there or like bounce around to other places. Ultimately, though, I do like what Lockheed Martin does, and so I would probably prefer to come back and stay there. Speaker 1 And so summarize it for me in my 30 seconds. What does Lockheed Martin do? They do like a you enjoy what is it? Speaker 2 I work in commercial civil space, so I work in like the like developing like space, like lunar, like landing and also sustaining lunar development kind of stuff. Okay? And so I just feel like it's really interesting exploring like the unknown and like advancing things. Speaker 1 Awesome. Speaker 4 Now, I will say when we were at the top ten luncheon last, it was last week, right? There were a lot of students opting to go to UT. What made you all? My husband went to UT, so we're we're big longhorns around our house. So what made y'all want to go there in particular? Speaker 2 For me, it was just kind of convenience, like it wasn't. I was out of my budget and UT has a good computer science program, so I was like, Yeah, awesome. Speaker 4 So and some great barbecue in the surrounding areas. Speaker 3 So I had the similar reasons for mine. Yeah, it's close to home relatively so yeah. So that's why. Speaker 4 Awesome. Speaker 1 And I assume since you're Vallance out that you apply to a lot of different places, are you just really applied to UT it sounds like maybe Jenny Rice. Speaker 2 Oh no I Rice I just, I knew it was out of my budget so I just didn't even try. Speaker 1 To even. Yeah. Speaker 2 I did. You see an end? And then that was it. Speaker 1 Because, you know. Speaker 2 Out of state is expensive too. Yeah. So that's all right. Speaker 1 Yeah, right. How about you, Sebastian? Speaker 3 I applied a couple of schools. Speaker 1 Okay. Speaker 3 Including rice. But I didn't get in, so. Speaker 1 Okay. It was last year. I think our valedictorian, he knew he was like. He just knew in his mind he was growing up. He was going to go to. I don't want to mess this up, wasn't it? Speaker 4 I was right, I think. Speaker 1 And he didn't get to get in and he finish. Yeah. Speaker 4 I mean, I mean, obviously like, Oh, brilliant. Speaker 1 Yeah. And he didn't get into rice and he ended up at. Speaker 4 Stanford I think. Yeah. Speaker 1 At Stanford. Speaker 4 Yeah he was, he was obviously. But yeah. It's so crazy. Like what The crisis. Speaker 1 I would think when you're balanced out, you just automatically get it. Speaker 4 Did you ever. Speaker 1 School. Yeah you apply to but it probably even depends on the school within the school that you're wanting to get in, right. I mean if you wanted to get into forestry or something like that, it listen for all you forestry people out there, I'm not saying your degree is not, you know, worthy of balance out, but I think it might depend on the school within the school. Speaker 1 So talk to me about study habits. What what have you always had? School just always come easily to you. Do you enjoy learning in school? When did you kind of go this? I enjoy this, or maybe don't enjoy it. You just work really hard at it or both. Talk to me about study habits and what that looks like for you. Speaker 2 Um, I in the beginning, like from elementary school and stuff, my parents kind of like they made me do a lot of pictures. Speaker 1 Jenny We didn't, we didn't describe you. You walk us through. Oh, Sebastian, a little bit about himself. Sorry. Yes. Tell us a little bit about about you growing up and who you are. Speaker 2 My parents immigrated from China and they moved around in the States in our earlier years. So I was born in Illinois and I have an older sister. She was born in Wisconsin and it was really early for me. I moved here before kindergarten started for me and so and I've been here since like for K through 12. Speaker 1 Okay. Yeah. Okay, cool. Okay. So, all right, now get back to what you were saying. Yeah, All right, You did. Speaker 2 So they my parents were like, they're really into academics because they're really competitive in China. And so they kind of push a lot of extra work outside of school. So I was really had a lot of the time. So it came easily for a bit. And then high school hit and then moving into like a lot of advanced classes. Speaker 2 And then I jumped in. I feel like I jumped into too much and I it got difficult. And I think for me because like things used to be easy and then like I wasn't used to struggling, I was like it was I got my ego checked, you know. Speaker 1 So and we could have an hour long conversation just about that right there, you know, because so if you don't mind, just a little bit of time on when you say you were struggling, like what did struggling look like to you? Was it that you didn't make an A? Speaker 2 No, I made A's like high A's throughout everything. But it was just like putting in more time to study, I guess. I think I wasn't used to studying when I was in, like, elementary to junior high. Yeah. Speaker 1 So help me understand that, though. You never made lesson in a how is it that you knew you were struggling? Speaker 2 Oh, because. Because I had to put more work in to get the A, so yeah. Speaker 1 You just started. Speaker 4 Your challenge to maybe the first time. Yeah. Yeah. Speaker 1 And what specifically do you remember the subject matter that you were like, Oh, like, I've got to get serious about this. Chemistry. Chemistry? Speaker 2 Yeah. I was going to say. Speaker 1 Yeah, I mean, it's different for different people, you know? So yeah, that's interesting. Speaker 4 Well, and I had one of my best friends growing up. She ended up being our salutatorian and she went to she went to Rice and originally was going into computer science, I believe was her her major. And she ended up having a really hard time adjusting to the fact that she was surrounded by people who were just as smart as her for the first time in her life. Speaker 4 And I think she would probably admit herself, like didn't handle it necessarily the best. And she actually like the things she said she wanted to do her whole life. She ended up switching majors and doing something totally different. She ended up in art appreciation, but it was just such an interesting thing to watch her like kind of lose her identity in a sense in that time of like all of a sudden just being challenged for the first time and not being that smartest person in the room because everybody in the room wasn't the smartest at their high school. Speaker 4 Yeah, that's right. Yeah. Speaker 1 And I would think you're about to experience the same. You know, you're going to go off to college, you're going to do well, it's going to do fine. It's just. What's that? What's that. Speaker 4 Struggle? Yeah. Speaker 1 You know, I mean, there are a lot of people that have never made straight A's. They don't understand that struggle. Like in my mind, I'm going, Wait, You never made less than a day? Where was that struggle for you? You know, But it's all relative, right? I mean, yeah, you a struggle. Speaker 4 You just the future you probably put on yourself to maintain. And I think when you're at the top, like there is a pressure to stay there. Like if almost if you weren't there, there wouldn't be that same level, you know, But, but it, it just adds this anxiety to everything. Speaker 1 Was a you had top ten luncheon or from Clare Brook where they said, oh I just went blank with the other valedictorian. They said, oh that they were named number one at the beginning of freshman year year. I didn't realize it until they stuck with it. Yeah, it was. Speaker 2 The other one. Yeah, it was the same for me. Speaker 1 Oh, was it? Yeah. So you knew your freshman year? Yeah. Speaker 2 I was in denial for the most part, because my dad told me that I wasn't, and so I didn't think I was until the final rate came out at the very end of the year. Speaker 1 Oh, okay. Yeah. And how would you how are. You are told that on your report card. Speaker 2 It's like in skyward they just send a like a top ten. Speaker 1 Oh they do. Yeah. And they say this is your ranking. Yeah. And that. Speaker 4 Starts when you're like during your freshman year like after the first semester. Speaker 2 After I think it was after the first year. Speaker 4 You. Speaker 1 Get to the end. Yeah. Yeah. Is end of the year which we may we used to not do, we used to not give out rankings until like their junior year and it said a lot of people because they didn't know where they were going. Speaker 4 I guess you have more time to try to like change that if you want to. Yeah, I guess. I guess so. Speaker 1 That's not something I. Yeah. Speaker 2 I really thought. Speaker 1 Oh so. Okay. Are you involved with extracurriculars? Speaker 3 Um, I used to be really involved with tennis after my junior year. That took up a lot of time. Speaker 1 Yeah. Speaker 3 But now I doing many, like, a little low key things, like I'm in Yale Science, and that's my main focus, right? Speaker 1 Science. Yale, you all science? Yep. Speaker 3 Um, yeah, that's my main focus because we go in to the state competition, we have it our later in May. So good. Speaker 1 Good. That's exciting. Do you, do you exercise? I mean, like, what's your, what's your kind of. Speaker 4 Like, stress. Speaker 1 Relief? Speaker 3 Um, I for. Speaker 1 Fun, Sebastian. Speaker 3 I mean, I play video games, I play the piano, I watch movies with my family. Okay. Speaker 1 Um, what video games? Your favorite. Speaker 3 Civilization six. That it's like it's a strategy game. Okay. Speaker 1 Do you know sketch? No. What's up, brother? No. No. Okay. Do you. Jenny? Speaker 2 No, I don't. I don't know that. Speaker 4 Either, but I. Speaker 1 Sketch. What's that, brother? Netherton Tanner. And they do this and it's okay. Speaker 2 Okay. Speaker 1 He's just a video. He's a gamer, and he's become really, really popular, and nobody can figure out why. And they even had him announce on the NFL draft. They had him come up and announce a news YouTuber. He's like, Yeah, he. Speaker 4 Screams his like he screams, laying out the isn't that a side stitch or switch or something where they would you know about that playing video games. Speaker 3 Uh, twitch. Speaker 4 Twitch twitch Yeah it's like there's one where they like that's what they do is. Speaker 1 This is a guy's name. Oh he's like, in. He's young. He's so. Yeah, and he's actually from Houston, but. Oh, yeah, yeah. Speaker 4 Yeah. Speaker 1 Okay. So what about you, Jenny? What do you do for fun? Like, how do you let loose? Speaker 2 I used to run cross-country and track on my freshman year, but I messed up my knees, and so, yeah, I had to quit, like, right after freshman year. Yeah, but I also really like art, and so. Okay, Yeah. Speaker 1 Well, that's a that's a wonderful. Speaker 4 Yeah. Do you have a specific like style that you prefer? Speaker 2 Um, I mean, I did a lot of realism this year for like radio ah, and other stuff. I did some surrealism and sculpting too, so. Yeah. Speaker 4 Nice. Yeah. That the pottery that's come at the high school is ceramic ceramics. Yeah. So for we, we actually got to they brought for our district leadership team mugs for us to paint so that was pretty fun getting to make those little mugs. Definitely do not craft them ourselves. So we did paint. Speaker 1 Yes that is enjoyable. What would you say? You naturally have a gift of brains, right? I mean, would you admit that to yourself? Yes. Speaker 2 Yes, I wouldn't. You wouldn't know. Speaker 1 What would it take for you to understand that academically you have a gift? Speaker 2 I don't think I do. I think it's just lot of like, work ethic that's got me to where I know that's. Speaker 4 A gift right there, too. I mean, I guess. Speaker 2 Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. Speaker 1 You have work ethic, There's no doubt about that. I find it interesting that you don't think that, though, have you ever had your I.Q. tested? Speaker 2 No. Speaker 1 Okay. Well, if you did that, I think you would then go, okay, I'm smart, but what would you say are just other gifts and talents that you have, like what comes easily to you or naturally, or that you just love and enjoy and you do it? Well. Speaker 2 I think I do. I feel like creative things like art and stuff, like pretty well, yeah. And I think I started at an early age and so I also that's why I like computer sciences. There's a creative aspect to it. Like you can follow the logic easily, but like you can create with it. So I think just, yeah, anything to do with like making stuff up from your own brain, I guess that's interesting. Speaker 1 I've never thought about computer science as being there's a creative aspect to it that you just know it's so much deeper than what I do that you can see the creative aspect to it. So that's awesome. That's wonderful. What about you, Sebastian? What do you think you're really good at? Speaker 3 I think I'm gifted and like completely the other direction. I'm not creative at all. Okay? I think I'm better with, like, I don't know, like, logical, practical things and just being creative, I guess. So that's why I like, I like math more than the more creative subjects like language literature. Speaker 1 So were you good at tennis? Did you think you were good at it? Speaker 3 I mean, I've been playing since I was five and a half years old. Speaker 1 Okay. Speaker 3 Um, I've never been really, like, really good at it because I've never been really athletic, but, um, since I've been practicing so much, I've gone to pretty decent at it. Speaker 4 So now you played pickleball. Speaker 3 A couple of times. Speaker 4 Yes, we are. Was it last? Last week we went and played. Dana invited me to play at Chicken and Pickle and if you all have not been, it's a pretty darn cool place fun. Speaker 1 I mean, it's fun regardless if you can play or not. It's just one of those sports that you can get three other people and just get out there and play a fun, you know, But you wouldn't really enjoy it. Speaker 4 Yeah, exactly. And it's it's just real like recreational, but it's just a nicely I just loved it. Yeah. Speaker 2 This is pickle. Speaker 1 Tennis is one of those sports I believe tennis and golf. You can play the rest of your life, you know. And so I just want to encourage you to keep playing tennis because you don't have to be the best at it. But it's more than likely you'll be better than most people that you most people that you play. Speaker 1 So what would be some advice to some underclassmen that that they work hard, they have good work ethic, they're smart. The Risinger. Maybe they're already in the top ten and they know it or they're in junior high. And that's something that is very important to them to to be in the top ten. What advice would you give them, really? Speaker 1 Any student Just about being a student in general, what advice would you give? Speaker 2 I would say don't stress too much. Okay? Yeah, that's it. Speaker 1 Okay. How would you So in all of our brains, because my husband and I have this conversation on a regular basis, we're completely opposite. He is high anxiety. I would say he's more high anxiety, which is what propels him and keeps him going. He's a sell in, sells and he's never had an office in his life. He has to deal with sells and going to people. Speaker 1 And if I had never had an office in my entire life, I don't know that I would say disciplined. Yeah, I'm disciplined in some things, but I would be like, nobody knows where I am today. You know, I'm not going to go in anybody's offices. And it's that anxiety that really keeps him going and keeps him dedicated. So when that stress creeps into your mind, how do you deal with kind of saying, I just don't stress about it because that's easy. Speaker 1 That's how I am. I would say, Why are you stressed out? You're you've done great your whole life. You know, continue to work hard. How do you not stress Jenny? Speaker 2 I think I'm like your husband. I run on anxiety. Yes, I stress a lot, but I realize that's a bad thing to do. Speaker 1 So it can work for you, though. Yeah, right. I mean, it's gotten you to where you are. That's true. Yeah. Yeah, it is creating that work life balance. So I like the advice of not stressing. It's figuring out, I guess, a way to balance that stress, to relieve it somehow. Speaker 4 You know, I'm curious, just kind of ping pong off of that question. So talking to those underclassmen, you're saying don't stress. So all of the stress, all of the work, all the hours you've put in to getting to where you are at the end, would you do you think it's worth it? Speaker 3 Yes, I'd say it's worth. Speaker 2 I would say no. But if you put me in the same place, I would do the same thing again. Yeah. So. Yeah, yeah. Speaker 1 Which that's okay. That's the way you're wired, right? Yeah. I mean, it's, it's for the rest of your life, and this is just me kind of talking through. I'm older, so I can kind of say this, and I have kids that are young adults. Now, that's not going to stop for you when high school is over. It's not going to stop for you. Speaker 1 When college is over, it's going to be something you're going to have to continue to deal with and figure out. You know, and a lot of times you surround yourself, you find yourself surrounding yourself with people that are maybe different than you, that that will be that gift of balance. Hey, it's okay. Yeah, it's okay not to You don't need to stress about that. Speaker 1 Like you don't need to. How can we go do something fun to relieve that, you know, stress And that that is why they say exercise is so important, because it releases those endorphins. Endorphins in your mind that really help with balancing that stress. You know, we've heard that our whole lives that actually put that into action, that's where we start to go. Speaker 1 Okay, That's going to help. What about you, Sebastian? What advice would you give. Speaker 3 If the if you're already successful? I mean, just keep on doing what you're doing and, you know, like you're saying, just go outside every once in a while to, you know, let loose. That's pretty much it. Speaker 1 Are you going to prom this weekend? Speaker 2 I am, you know. Speaker 1 No. Okay. I just didn't know. Are you going to. Did you go to prom last year? Speaker 2 I did. Speaker 1 Okay. When I first I used to be the assistant principal at the high school. And so whenever I first went to prom, I loved that everybody got on the dance floor and everyone dances literally, like, the entire time. Yeah, but I was kind of surprised that every year, like, dancing is everybody's really jam packed together and everybody, like, jumps up and down. Speaker 1 Did you notice that? Yeah, I. Speaker 2 Was kind of confused when I got there because we were all just like jumping in place and I was like, I don't know what's going on. Speaker 1 So everybody jumps up and everybody's like, sweating and it, it ends up being a blast. It's so cute for outside people like me to sit there and watch you have a blast. But yeah, I was just going to prepare you. If you didn't go to prom last year, just be ready to jump up and down. Speaker 4 About the whole night, which. Speaker 1 May not be good for your knees, but. Speaker 4 No, no. What is your. Can we ask what color is your dress? Speaker 2 Oh, it's black. Black? Yeah. Speaker 4 Hey, hey, hey. Sleeves strapless. Speaker 2 It's like the spaghetti strap. Speaker 4 So I'm like, it seems to kind of fluctuate. What's the most popular like? It's, like, hot. I mean, that's. Yeah, I don't. Speaker 1 Even know what styles are now. Speaker 4 Or, like, the sweetheart neckline or, like, there are, at least with wedding dresses. Like there was a phase, I think, really, when I was getting married where everyone was doing like those sheer long sleeves. And we just kind of need to think about what's what's in right now. Speaker 1 Okay. Jenny, are you on to talk now? Oh, my gosh. You're not okay. I'm not I'm not going to push you to be tight, but there's a super cute. Are you going with someone? You have a date? Speaker 2 No. Speaker 1 Okay. Are you going with her? Yeah. Okay. I would take a friend. It's just a really cute. Are you on any social media at all? Speaker 2 Yeah, I'm on Instagram. Speaker 4 So you may see on. On reals. Speaker 2 Yeah. Speaker 1 So let me see if I can decide. So you're like, in your casual, normal clothes before you get dressed. Speaker 2 I know what you're talking about. Yeah. Speaker 4 Over the phone and then. Speaker 1 No, it's not jumping over the phone, but they do this one turn or something and in the middle of their turn there in their prom outfit. Oh, yeah. It's a door. Speaker 2 I go off to do that. Yeah, we did something like that last year. Oh, yeah. Speaker 1 Oh, so it's not even new at all. Speaker 2 Okay. Speaker 1 So do something I don't. Is your account private? Speaker 2 No. Speaker 1 Okay. I want you to do that if you all remember. And then we want to. Could we maybe use your post and then posted on friends what I see and say happy prom to everyone. Speaker 2 Sure. If we do it this year. Yeah. Okay. Speaker 1 That would be really cute. And prom is Saturday night, so I heard some people aren't that excited about it being at the flight museum. Speaker 2 I heard that too, But I mean, I personally. Speaker 1 Think last. Speaker 2 Year, no, it was at. Speaker 1 Oh, other Moody Gardens or the. No, it was at. Speaker 4 Dancing. Speaker 1 Conventions. At convention Center. Yeah. Speaker 4 I think the flight museum will be really cool. Speaker 1 The Flight museum is a beautiful venue. Speaker 4 Well, you know, when they filmed we love the show on Netflix, Love is Blind. And they did a Houston season and that was one of the places they did for like an extravagant day. It was the flight museum. And they had a little like dinner set up there. I was like, Oh, well, you know, these things are more. Speaker 1 It's a beautiful venue. Yeah, I just think so many people afterwards, like, want to go to Galveston. And so it's this. Speaker 4 Oh, that's true. That's a good, good point. Yeah. Speaker 1 Okay. So as you transition into the next phase of your life, right. What how do you want people to remember you at Friendswood High School? Sorry, Sebastian, we're boring you because we've been talking prom dresses and all that. So basically, are you left? So, Sebastian, how would you want teachers, students to describe you? Like, what would you want your legacy to be? Speaker 3 Well, I have a brother who's a freshman, so I hope that he can outperform me. Oh, by the end. Speaker 1 Yeah. Oh, that's nice. Speaker 4 It's nice. Yeah. Speaker 1 Okay, Jenny. Speaker 2 I. I guess just hard working. Yeah. Speaker 4 Yeah, Well, that. I think that's a given the goal of of be remembered for that for sure. Speaker 1 Do you have your, you have your speeches ready. Speaker 2 I have like some ideas just stuck somewhere but not cohesive, not down. Speaker 1 So now you have to go through that with like your English teacher. Do they have to read through that And I. Speaker 2 Don't think so, no. Speaker 1 I think Mr. Griffin will read. Speaker 2 I think we have to turn it in to your phone, but not to our English teacher. Speaker 1 Well, the reason I said English teacher was Miss Simon, who I think instead of refine that you went through Miss Simon and she was the one that read through your speech and all that kind of stuff. Speaker 4 Well, we'll be we'll be a graduation and we'll be there. Speaker 1 I have to tell you what, I look forward to your speeches every year. Yeah. Can we make sure there's some spice or something funny in there? Speaker 4 A little pizzazz. Speaker 1 Let's try something. Speaker 2 We can try. Yeah. Speaker 1 I like that. Thank you, JD. You can try. I like that. So here's something that everybody wants to know. What are you terrible at? Like, terrible. Speaker 4 Yeah. You can't just be perfect. Like, yo. Speaker 1 You can't be perfect. Speaker 4 We want to know. Then we need to know one flaw. Speaker 2 And I'm terrible at coordination. That's why my sport was track and cross-country was because I could not be coordinated enough for anything else. Speaker 1 Like you and I. Speaker 2 Yeah. Speaker 4 So did you catch anything? Speaker 2 No. I am so bad at catching. Speaker 4 That's okay. So I'm going to tell a little. Sorry. My mom. Same way. Like her. Her mom actually was very old school. Did not think it was feminine for women to play sports. And so she was never allowed to play sports growing up. And so that really hindered her as far as being able to catch because me and my sister, because she was never allowed. Speaker 4 She put us in everything growing up. And so anyway, she would go out in the yard and like God love her, like she would try, but she could not catch a single thing. She would jam her fingers all the time. So fast forward, we were in high school and we went to we had a foreign exchange unit and so we went to a Thanksgiving parade in Houston just to give her some, like, true American experiences while she was with us. Speaker 4 And there was like a car dealership that threw out little foam balls and my mom caught one. Whoa. And she just up and down. And I swear, she almost cried. Speaker 2 And she kept that ball every year. That was her. When she was she was like. Speaker 1 That's hilarious. Speaker 2 Who's winning? So anyway, there's still hope for you. Yeah. Speaker 1 So, Sebastian. Speaker 3 Um. Well, I'm terrible at staying warm when it's cold. Oh, yeah, I said. Speaker 2 That's something you. Speaker 3 Intro. Oh, yeah, I know. But I'm particularly sensible to the cold. I don't know why, but. Speaker 1 Yeah. So Switzerland. You remember the cold all the time? Speaker 3 No, I don't know. I only started feeling it once I moved here, so I don't. Oh, wow. Yeah. I don't. Speaker 4 Know. The place that never gets cold. Yeah. Speaker 1 Yeah, I would have your blood checked. Speaker 3 Yeah. Speaker 2 Is it over? Laurie, do you. Speaker 1 Know that's funny? I'm cold all the time, too, but it looks like you are smart. Sebastian. You're wearing a jacket. Yeah, that's so that's always good. Oh, my. Speaker 4 Gosh. It's about this. The air is actually often here right now, but it's usually freeze and freezing here, like you're in one extreme to the other. And it's like, I don't know why it never can get fixed. But you know what? I that was just maybe a little something for anything I threw in for today. Speaker 2 Thank you. Speaker 1 Okay, so you want to think about you're going off to college, right? That's just right around the corner. By the way, what are you most worried about not knowing how to do? And this is outside of academics. This is like taking care of yourself. So like, what are you most worried about? How to do. Speaker 2 Scheduling, like maintaining a proper good schedule? Speaker 1 How do you do that now? Speaker 2 I don't know. Speaker 1 So you don't use your phone calendar? Speaker 2 I mean, I write things down, but I don't really do them at like times. I just kind of do them when I think I should do them. Speaker 1 So I'll do that as a routine. Speaker 2 Yeah, I have no routine. Speaker 1 Okay. Well, I would recommend it. Yeah. Yeah. I think it's also a time to get a calendar. I'm an old school. I like to write it down, but the reason I do write it down is because I can remember that. And I also have have it obviously a digital calendar on my phone, but writing down is just a great thing. Speaker 1 And every Sunday evening I look at the entire week of what I have to do. And what. Speaker 2 About. Speaker 1 Sebastian? What do you think you're just not good at and you're really worried about having to do? Speaker 3 I also don't keep a schedule at all, so I'll need to do that as well. But also I'm worried that I'll, you know, shy away from like opportunities or something. So I, I need to learn how to, you know, really tackle those going into college. Speaker 1 As in, like social. Speaker 3 Um, well, I was thinking like career wise and. Speaker 4 Oh yeah. Speaker 1 Yeah, like internships. Speaker 3 Yes. Speaker 1 Okay. How is your social game? How are you with your friends and being out with groups of people? Speaker 3 I'm not great. I'm definitely an introvert, so I tend to shy away from those as well. Speaker 2 So it's okay. If we're going to the same school, I'll drag you around. There you go. Oh, nice. Speaker 1 And you say that jokingly, but. Speaker 2 You know. Speaker 1 A lot of times introverts may tell themselves that they don't need to get involved and that academics is most important. And what I would tell you is you've got that academic thing down, right? You know how to do that. You know how to be successful at that. I'm not saying I mean, you're going to stay on top of that. Speaker 1 Yeah, there's no doubt you work at the social side of it because so much you guys of college. Well, really life, life, networking, knowing people, having connections. So I want to encourage both of you to really make sure. Speaker 4 Your priority is that. Speaker 1 Yes. Yeah, it's very important and it's important for your mental health also to have connections and friends. Speaker 4 It just brings it's like the joy of life is those relationships and those like fun moments too. So. That's right. Yeah. I think that's. Speaker 1 All that needs to be fun, too. Yes. Super serious. Speaker 4 Yes. Speaker 1 How are you? Okay. Here. Here comes another side of me. Do you know how to cook? What are you going to do for eating? Speaker 3 Definitely a lot of pasta. Speaker 1 A lot of pasta. Okay. And you might have a meal plan. Speaker 2 Yeah, the meal plan? Yes. Speaker 1 Okay. Laundry? Yeah. Laundry. You know, washing clothes, I mean. Speaker 2 Yeah. Speaker 4 We do. Yeah. Fashion. Speaker 3 Um. Speaker 2 Some shifting of hair. Speaker 3 Now, you know? Speaker 1 Okay, Sebastian, this summer, you need to start washing dry clothing. Your own clothes. Speaker 2 Yeah. Speaker 1 Hey, you're not alone. Speaker 2 Let me say, there are. Speaker 1 A lot of seniors out there. Have no idea how to do that. Mom and Dad, stop doing for your seniors. Frankly, start doing it for your junior high kids. They how to wash, right? Yeah, they do. What else? Oh, this is something my boys never did until college. If you get sick, guess what you're going to have to do. Speaker 3 Travis. Speaker 1 What? You're going to have to know how to call the doctor. Okay, So, see, the doctor. Speaker 4 Is office the weirdest. That one's weird. I remember the first time I did that, I'm like, Well, my mom usually gave me a bill for if I needed anything. Speaker 2 Thank you. Badger Was your roommate just reading about her like, Oh, what's that, Bill? It's like, I think. Speaker 1 Insane with hair cuts. Speaker 3 You just call, right? Speaker 1 Call and say, I need a haircut. And they say. Speaker 2 She lady. Speaker 1 Like, give you an appointment and then you write it in your book like it's crazy. God, maybe haven't had to do those things and yeah and depend on your friends too Or maybe the people that you live with because they're going through the same exact thing. Oh yeah. No matter. You're going to be so possibly, possibly, maybe not so lonely your first semester. Speaker 1 You're going to be so, like, out of your kind of wits. Like, what have I done to myself? Speaker 4 I'll change. Speaker 1 And everybody you're around is going to be the exact same, whether they express it or not. Yeah, you're all in the same boat. Talk about it. Kind of keep yourself. Busy with some social events and go and enjoy yourself. Speaker 4 And just don't get discouraged if, like you do feel like because it's like, so, so normal. Yeah, So normal. Speaker 1 Yeah, totally. Anything else? Any other any other advice? Parenting advice we can give them before they leave? Speaker 4 You really nail it unwarranted. Speaker 1 Well, that's for boys that have gone through this, so I know exactly what they struggled with. Speaker 4 So it's true. Speaker 1 Yeah. Speaker 4 No, I mean, I think again, you all are obviously have been so successful academically and we're very proud of you for this. I mean, so proud of you. Obviously, so few people are able to accomplish what you've accomplished. Just excited to see what you all are able to do moving forward and can't wait to watch your flourish. Speaker 3 Thank you. Speaker 1 Thank you for being here. This was great. Anything else you'll have to say? Any questions you have? Speaker 2 No, I don't think. Speaker 1 We'll see your graduation. Speaker 3 Thank you.