Makena Johnson STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

A varsity cross country athlete and an academic excellence award recipient, this seventeen-year-old San Luis Obispo High School senior has a bright future ahead of her.

Which extra-curricular activities are you involved in? I ran on the cross country team all four years at SLO High. Additionally, I am in the Environmental Club where we care for the earth and community by doing things like monthly trash pick-ups. I also am a member of Harvard Model Congress and travel to San Francisco in order to simulate the U.S. government and the passing of laws.

What do you like to do for fun? Outside of school, I love to travel, read, and backpack. My dad and I have done a lot of trips to the Sierra Nevadas and backpacked to some beautiful alpine lakes. I have also been fortunate enough to travel to some amazing countries like Indonesia, Spain, France, Canada, and Mexico where I got to experience different cultures. But I never turn down the opportunity to stay in and read a book.

What is one of your favorite memories? Seeing Monet’s “Water Lilies” at the Musée de l’Orangerie while I was in Paris is on the top of my list. The museum was filled with beautiful art from numerous painters that I admire, but I particularly loved experiencing the room with the walls covered in Monet’s Lilies. The room made you feel as if you were inside of Monet’s painting.

Who has influenced you the most? My parents have really influenced me to be the best version of myself and to work hard. My dad is the most committed athlete I know and I really look up to him. My mother appreciates different cultures and travel and has introduced my sister and I to her love of travel and the people you meet along the way.

Do you have a career path in mind? I have applied to college as a microbiology major with a minor in journalism. I hope to pursue a career path involving medical research. I would like to research and write about women’s health in underprivileged communities. I want to see a change in healthcare in which all patients are seen as equal.

What schools are you considering for college? My top colleges currently are Oregon State University and UC Berkeley. I would love to go north and these schools have very promising science programs. I have also applied to Northeastern, Boston University, and Smith. I have always wanted to live on the East Coast where my family has roots.