Le’Varre Franks-Ashley, 18
Family: mother, Michelle Franks; grandparents, Roseetta and Daniel Franks Sr.; sisters, Monet Franks-Ashley, Laraiyah Ashley, Lenieyah Ashley and Lamia Ashley; and brother, TaéVeon Franks-Ashley
What’s next: Moving to Texas to find a college and look for a job
What kind of job do you want to get?
Retail skills.
Are you looking forward to finding a job?
Yeah, because I’ve been looking for a job for about a year in Portland, so now I have to find a job in the Texas area. I’ve never had a job before. I’m going to love having a job.
What kinds of activities have you participated in at Grant?
Football and track. I did football almost four years and I’ve been doing track for three years.
What’s been the hardest part of high school for you?
One of my toughest classes I took this year was African-American Lit, but I kinda liked that class.
How have you changed since your first year at Grant?
I changed because when I was in seventh grade, I was always in a rush for something. But now, I’ve…been patient for about four years.
Who’s your favorite person to be around at school?
Ms. Cheryl. She’s in Mr. Lee’s class. She’s nice and she’s funny, too.
What will you miss the most about Grant?
When I’m walking to class, when I’m walking in the halls, like seeing the pictures on the wall…It’s kinda crazy that the time’s just going too fast.
When you leave Grant, will you be sad?
Not really. I’m just gonna miss it when I’m graduating. I’m gonna miss it while I cross the stage.
– Interview by Sophie Hauth, Photo by Finn Hawley-Blue
Paige Rojas (left), 17, and Mia Sigmund-Gaines, 17
Family: for Paige – parents, Rebekah Page and Tyler Rojas; sisters, April Rojas, Jasmine Rojas and Natalie Rojas; for Mia – parents, Jo Sigmund and Michelle Gaines
What’s next?
for Paige, Mt. Hood Community College; for Mia, Paul Mitchell Beauty School
How did you guys meet?
Mia: During (Dan) Anderson’s history class, she and her sister came in and they were the new kids, and I had just gone through disconnecting with old friends and I was really lonely. I was like, “Yes, yes, I will be partners with them.”
What does your friendship mean to you?
Mia: I think it’s just the ability to have someone there for you, a friend, someone that you trust. Any time I have trouble with my parents, she’s the one that I can talk to.
What’s one of your best memories?
Paige: A lot of my favorite memories were honestly when we were just sitting in her room at night, talking. We’d just cuddle up in her bed and just like listen to music or we’d just talk about things that are going on.
What’s next year looking like?
Mia: Me and her sister are trying to look for jobs and we both want to go to beauty school together.
Paige: Hopefully, you guys move in with me. I am so serious.
Mia: We’re looking at getting an apartment. We’re just like a little happy family.
– Interview by Lael Tate, Photo by Cassie Hill
Meagan Lewis, 18
Family: parents, Linda and Jeff Lewis; and brother, Stephen Lewis
What’s next?
How would you define yourself?
Creative. Stubborn.
Why?
I don’t like to admit that I’m wrong. And I don’t like giving in, even when it’s obvious that I’m wrong. I guess I get that most with my brother. It’s a kind of sibling rivalry thing.
Where do you see yourself in 20 years?
Well, you never know. I guess my ideal would be working as an editor at some publishing house and having a book of my own published.
So you like writing. When did you get into it?
I guess probably seventh grade was when I really realized I wanted to write. My favorite assignment ever is from seventh grade. Our teacher had us write for an hour every weekend. And we could just write about whatever we wanted.
What’s the writing process like?
I guess it just starts out with themes that just play out in my head and then from there I work on the characters.
Do you have any writing heroes you like to read?
I admire Christopher Paolini because he got published when he was really young.
What made you choose Bangor?
A couple years ago, I went on a vacation with my family and I just really liked it. They have a really good creative writing program.
What is the biggest thing you’ve learned about yourself in high school?
I guess confidence is really the biggest thing. I’ve always considered myself to be shy, but I guess I’ve learned that I can get past that.
– Interview by Lael Tate and Rennie Kendrick, Photo by Cassie Hill
Bode Arigbon, 17
Family: parents, Veronica and Toye Arigbon; brothers, Tay and Tunde Arigbon; and sister, Bumi Arigbon
What’s next? College of the Siskiyous
How would you describe yourself?
I would describe myself as a kind of outgoing guy, pretty funny, pretty smart and just a person that’s a joy to be around.
You‘re planning on becoming a pilot after attending college. How did you become interested?
When I was a kid, my mom would take me down to the airport and I would see the planes take off and land and I was really fascinated with it.
I’ve heard you have a strict mom.
Yeah, I have one of those no-nonsense parents. She told me that after high school that if I don’t go to school or have a job that she’s gonna kick me out the house. She kinda influenced me to try to go to college.
What’s one decision that rule impacted?
When I had my thesis due, I just didn’t want to do it. My mom popped up in my head and I was like, ‘Oh, I have to do it.’ So any time I think about doing something I shouldn’t do, it makes me make my decision.
What’s your biggest high school regret?
I was kinda shy my freshman and sophomore year and I really didn’t get to meet or talk to any people that I wish I would’ve talked to today.
You’re more outgoing now. What’s that like?
It feels good when you walk down the hallway and five or six people say “Hi,” and just getting to know people that you never talked to in high school is a pretty good feeling.
– Interview by Sophie Hauth, Photo by Cassie Hill
Quinci Freeman-Lytle, 17
Family: mother, Angela Freeman; stepfather, Matthew Moule; sister, Bella Freeman-Moule; and brother, Jaylin Freeman-Broadous
What’s next? Southern Oregon University
You just went to New York City with 23 other people after winning third place in Portland for the August Wilson Monologue Competition. How was it?
It was really cool. Since I got third place here, I didn’t get to compete in New York, but I did get to perform on a Broadway stage.
How many times did you perform?
Just once, but we did do our monologues on the subway just for fun. It was kinda cool because people pulled out their phones and started filming us.
What was your monologue about?
The character is basically talking to her brother; her brother has just killed a man, and she’s basically disowning him and telling him that she’s ignored all of his crimes and stuff, but now she can’t turn away anymore.
How has theater affected you?
I used to be really shy, and then I got into theater, and I just kind of got more comfortable with people. With theater kids, I feel like I can just do whatever and nobody will care.
What are you most looking forward to in college?
Meeting new people and having my life actually centered around theater instead of centered around school. Throughout my high school career, school was always put first and theater was always put last, and that made me really unhappy. So I think having my major be theater will be really helpful for me.
– Interview by Sophie Hauth, Photo by Finn Hawley-Blue
Julianne Stewart, 18
Family: parents, Linda and Jeffery Stewart; and sister, Alexandra Stewart
What’s next? Studying Chinese in Beijing through the National Security Language Initiative for Youth program.
How would you describe yourself?
Really focused, and I think that I come off as kind of quiet. But I mean that’s not who I am as a person. I think creative. And I just am really curious.
How long will you be in Beijing?
Nine months.
What’s it like doing something that’s different from the typical path?
It definitely surprises a lot of people, but I don’t feel unprepared for the thing itself because I spent nine months in Thailand.
What kinds of reactions do you get?
A lot of times people are kind of like, “The environment is so bad, the pollution is so bad – aren’t you concerned about that?” And it’s just kind of funny to me, because it’s so easy to blow up things in other countries, but obviously there are problems in the
U.S., too.
What do you like so much about living in foreign places?
When you’re somewhere new, you constantly have to adapt, and you feel uncomfortable a lot. But it’s just so fun to always be experiencing new things and just meeting new people and trying new foods. It just gives you a different perspective.
How would you say you’ve changed from freshman year to senior year?
I think I’ve just become a lot more open-minded. Everything isn’t so black and white. People are so complex, culture is so complex and traveling really helps me realize that.
– Interview by Sophie Hauth and Rennie Kendrick, Photo by Cassie Hill
Adanna Earl, 18
Family: parents, Margaret Maher and Michael Earl; and sister, Christina Green
What’s next? Portland Community College or Mt. Hood Community College
What are your goals?
I want to start a non-profit organization called “Share the Love” with the slogan, “Broken Crayons Still Color.” It’s basically gonna focus on helping high school kids…deal with their past and how to overcome toxic love relationships. Whether it’s friends, family, abuse.
What inspired you?
I used to just sit back and observe. Most kids just want attention because they’re not getting it at home.
How’d you come up with your slogan?
I was at a Girls Inc. thing and I noticed the kids were not using the broken crayons. I was like, “What’s wrong with these ones?” And they were like, “Oh, they’re broken.” And I was like, “But they still color.” It’s true because a lot of people label people as problems, or bad or broken. But they still have potential.
What do people not know about you?
That I’m actually really caring. Through high school, I kind of put up a wall. I got “Most Sassy” because I just hurt people before they hurt me. But that’s not me.
How would you like people to see you?
I want people to see me and think, “That’s a girl who has been through a lot, but she can still smile.
How are you finding happiness?
Through God. He just lets me know the things that have happened…they’re OK. He’s helped me to try to forgive others, to love yourself, love others and love Him.
– Interview by Lael Tate, Photo by Finn Hawley-Blue
Damon Rennaker, 18
Family: parents, Lisa and Jason Rennaker; brothers, Ayden Rennaker and Ethan Rennaker; and sister, Madi Rennaker
What’s next? Southern Oregon University
You’re a musician, right?
Yeah, I play guitar, piano and I sing. I write my own music and I’m working on doing an album this summer.
What’s your style of music?
You know the grooves when you hear them. I would say it’s very acoustic, very unplugged.
What’s been the best part of high school for you?
I think it’s been really emotional. It’s been a case of absolute chaos.
What are you doing to celebrate the end of high school?
Oh, man. Last night, I sent my book off to the printers – my new book. And skating a bunch, and just trying to hang out with people and be as goofy and ridiculous as possible.
What’s your book about?
Identity crisis. My reaction to the reactions of the world. It’s almost like selling your thoughts. It’s letting people into your world. It’s always been a means for me to just kinda have these categories and spaces that I can put all my memories.
What has the identity-finding process been like for you?
I’ve just kind of struggled with reputation – like I wanna be known for good things, and I wanna be known for honest things, and if that’s like the doofus or the goofball, then that’s awesome.
Have you always pursued your own kinds of projects?
I’ve never really liked people telling me what to do. I’ve always had little dreams in my head, and I think they’re starting to come together.
What’s something you would tell your freshman self?
Don’t worry about a thing.
– Interview by Sophie Hauth, Photo by Finn Hawley-Blue
Check back later for mini-profile videos on some of our featured seniors.
