Tara
Graduation Year: 2015
Hometown: Bend, Oregon
Interests/Activities: Competitive Horseback Riding, Choir/Other Vocalization, Volunteering, Philosophy, Neuroscience
Why did you choose OHS?
I spent my freshman and sophomore years solely at a charter school in my area, because it was the only program with enough flexibility to allow me to practice with my horse often enough. I was extremely grateful for the opportunities I was given at this school; however, I wanted to see if I was able to succeed if I was evaluated against students from a larger network. After some research, I decided to submit my application to OHS and was accepted a few months later. Last year, I was enrolled as a part time student, and this year, I am a single course student.
What are classes like at OHS?
My experience at OHS has been limited to the humanities, as that is the area I most excel in. In these classes, students are expected to participate on a regular basis by contributing to the discussion. For example, in literature courses, students are expected to have prepared for class by reading a chapter or segment from the text that's currently being covered in class. They will then contribute their analytical thoughts to the classroom conversation as directed by the instructor. Classes at the OHS are challenging - there's no getting around that. In my experience, however, the instructors are eager to support in any way possible: all you have to do, as an OHS student, is reach out to them. I would encourage new students to utilize office hours as often as their schedules allow, because meeting directly with a teacher is the best way to avoid falling behind in a class.
What is student life like at OHS?
At OHS, it's not exactly a secret that the students are smart and talented. Sometimes, it can be difficult to not feel discouraged by the amount of success that others present. Yet, if there's one thing OHS students are good at, it's calling attention to the accomplishments and positive traits of others, and thus, making everyone feel equally important. If I were to give advice to a new OHS student, I would encourage them to not feel intimidated by our impressive student body. Instead, I would ask that they celebrate their strengths as well as the strengths of others, which would allow them to feel included instead of inferior.
How has OHS helped you realize your goals?
OHS has helped me to gain confidence in my academic abilities. By being truly pushed by incredibly knowledgeable instructors, I have grown tremendously in my abilities to write, analyze, research, and comfortably participate in a discussion with a group of my peers. Furthermore, I have genuinely learned how to persevere through hard or boring topics, as well as particularly difficult assignments. At OHS, students are held to the highest standards possible. While at first this is overwhelming and quite stressful, I have learned how to push myself far beyond what I used to think were my limits. I have learned how to manage tasks and prioritize effectively so that I can be successful in classes. I foresee that this will be extraordinarily useful in college and beyond, and for that, I am grateful to the OHS.
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