ON THE RISE

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Bella Stenvall

Sixteen-year-old San Luis Obispo High School junior and the oldest of three girls, Bella Stenvall is energizied by writing, dancing and helping others.

Tell us about some of your achievements? I have been awarded the Presidential Award for Community Service, the Mayor’s Award and SLOHS Community Service Award twice, first place in the SLO County Writing Contest, acceptance to Stanford University Education Program for Gifted Youth (Environmental Science), the Rotary Youth Leadership Award, and two Tiger Awards for Class Top Ten. What sort of extra-curricular activities are you involved in? I am involved with and hold various leadership positions in ASB, Environmental Club, Interact Club, and TWAC Dance Club on campus. However, I spend a bulk of my time engaged in as many volunteer events as I can. Next year will be my third year as a Big Sister with Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS), I serve on the United Way Youth Board, work with the Downtown Association’s Santa’s House, WinterWonderSLO for BBBS, help at various walks/runs for different causes, as well as many beach-clean ups and trail restorations. What are your interests outside of school? Dance bloomed into a passion very early on for me. The Academy of Dance SLO has been my second home since I was two years old when my parents put me in a tutu for baby ballet. I spend about fourteen hours a week in the studio training. It takes time management and organization to balance such a schedule with school and other extra-curricular activites, but, wow, is it worth it. The sensation of performing is practically indescribable, and nothing brings me more joy. And, you enjoy writing... I’ve been published in some teen magazines, mainly personal narratives. Writing has always come easily to me, words seem to flow rather naturally. I love poetry and fiction with vivid descriptions. I write for myself more than others. We’ve heard your passionate about travel. Honestly, I just want to see as much of the world as possible. I inherited a love of travel from my parents. San Luis Obispo is such a tiny fraction of the country, let alone the planet. Traveling has opened my mind to new perspectives and cultures, and I want as much of it as I can get. What is your favorite memory? Earlier this June I was fortunate to travel to Bali with my mother and little sisters. We spent some time living at the Slukat Learning Center, a place for local children to receive free education from international volunteers. I think just the magic of waking up every morning in a place so incredibly rich in spirituality, and interacting with kids who have such open hearts, will be something that I cherish in my memory forever. What do you dislike the most? While I am completely guilty of this, I despise our culture’s use of technology and social media as a medium for relationship building. We are in a never-ending cycle of self-promotion, using texts to start or end conflicts simply because it’s easier. However, nothing compares to human-to-human contact, and I fear that we’re all losing touch with that. Did I mention that as a sixteen-year-old girl, I’m more at fault than many? What career do you see yourself in someday? I am very enthusiastic about environmental studies. Using my love of science to help find alternative energy sources with minimal ecological downsides seems like one career possibility. This as well as focusing more on research and traveling around the world promoting environmental awareness in areas that haven’t quite realized the importance of protecting our planet yet. What schools are you considering for college? If I had the opportunity, I would love to potentially attend a school on the East Coast just for a brand new experience. My dream schools include Duke, Columbia, Georgetown, and Yale. But I am also considering schools in California such as UCLA and UC Berkeley. SLO LIFE