Amanda Yares

Athenian provided personal and educational opportunities for growth that gave me the confidence, skills, and perspective to succeed in college and beyond. Athenian allowed me to challenge myself through AWE, Exchange, and various leadership positions throughout my four years. I had the opportunity to explore STEM alongside the arts, pursue multiple interests and consider the way in which I hope to impact our world long-term. I not only had the privilege of learning from incredible faculty, but thanks to the small class sizes and personal educational environment, I saw many of my teachers as mentors and appreciated their insight and care for my future and wellbeing. Academically, Athenian prepared me incredibly well for Engineering at UCLA. Athenian teaches students to be creative problem solvers that seek to understand concepts at a deep level and apply them in new situations. This problem solving, growth-mindset approach was instrumental in college and beyond, as I had both the technical math and writing skills for success, but I also had practice advocating for myself, seeking help on challenging subjects, and persevering with confidence. In reflecting on my high school experience, I believe Athenian’s focus on understanding and applying complex concepts and holistic support of their student body inspires growth and learning in an important, unique way.

I majored in Chemical Engineering at UCLA. Following graduation, I am now working as an engineer at SpaceX.