Class of 2018 - Portrait of a SeniorWe spent some time interviewing our graduating seniors to recall favorite memories, to hear aboutfuture plans, and to be humbled by the profound gift of having been part of their lives as they traveledfrom childhood into adulthood. Some of these graduates have been at Trinity Academy since itsfoundational years and they all have played a momentous part in building the thriving Trinitycommunity that we enjoy today. Please enjoy these vignettes and join us in celebrating this beautifulclass of 2018.

All are welcome to join us at the Commencement Exercises on Saturday, June 9, at 2:00 pm, atHinson Baptist Church. We will celebrate with a reception immediately following the ceremony.

Claire Bateson

Claire will continue her studies next year at the University ofPortland, pursuing a degree in Business and Marketing.She envisions a career in development and event planning,continuing down a path that she has already embarked onduring her internship the past two summers with Ball JanikLLP. What has been a highlight of your years at Trinity?The community! Sharing life with students across all thegrades, and forming friendships with my teachers has beenessential to my growth into adulthood.

What has the Trinity curriculum taught you that youwill take with you to college?In Humane Letters I learned to listen and learn from differentpoints of view, to discuss my own ideas clearly, and togather more information about the texts that I read. Forexample, when we read Hegel, I was very challenged by theideas that I did not agree with; however, after muchconversation in our seminar, I came to understand how hisworldview influenced his ideas. I’ve also learned to appreciate the discipline of hard work. Ifound out that the tapestry of my talents is woven from acombination of my natural abilities plus hard work that helpme flourish in areas that didn’t know were possible. Favorite book?The Brothers Karamazov is a page-turner! Dostoevsky

writes so that you can see into the characters’ very souls. It is clear that Dostoevsky has a deepcompassion and empathy toward the characters he creates, even the scoundrels. Any words of wisdom for us?Ask questions. That’s how you get to know your friends and deepen your relationships with yourteachers! And, be thankful.

Teresa Cieslak

Teresa is Corvallis-bound this fall as she joins the HonorsCollege at OSU in pursuit of a degree in MechanicalEngineering. She is looking forward to honing her math andscience skill set in a more concentrated way, although shementions that at this point she feels that she has gained thestudy skills and confidence to pursue other areas of interest,such as history, on her own time. What was a favorite class?I loved senior year Calculus. It has taught me to thinklogically and to argue clearly. I also really enjoyed junioryear Physics as we explored the applications of math andscience in the workings of the real world; it is also what leadto my desire to study engineering. Favorite book?

Oh, just come to my home and look at my bookshelf! I keep all the Trinity books together and I love tosee all that we’ve read together. When I saw the reading list as an 8th grader, I knew immediately thatthis was the school for me! How can I choose between To Kill a Mockingbird, Crime and Punishment,Augustine’s Confessions, The Brothers K, and Pride and Prejudice? I love how each author dives intothe psychology of the characters, and how I grow to understand and relate to them. What are you grateful for as you look back at your high school years?I am thankful that the teachers know how to teach us so well! I love the grading system that assesseswhat we’ve accomplished in a more accurate manner than by testing. I love that I’m friends witheveryone here at Trinity. I’d say this Trinity education is out of this world! And I’m so glad it’s rigorousand I’m grateful for how much I have learned. Any advice for your fellow students?As you move beyond our years at Trinity, no one else is going to tell you to do your work, so you haveto be self-motivated! And you will find more contentment if you have done your very best.

Katie Cole

Katie is going to attend Holy Cross College in South Bend,IN, and plans to major in Biology with a minor in SportsManagement. She looks toward becoming a physicaltherapist. What is one of the most compelling readings fromyour years at Trinity? Junior year we read Augustine’s Confessions and therealization hit me that even the smallest of sins causes abig separation from God. By the end of the book, thisnotion of the greatness of sin is overcome with hope in thegreatness of the redemptive power of God. What subject came as a pleasant surprise for you?Looking back, I am glad I studied Latin and worked hard ontranslations. It is paying off now as I learn French, as Ialready know the forms of grammar and how to use them. I

also appreciate the beauty of the Latin prose and poetry. Where were you challenged?Art has always been a challenge for me, but I’ve come to appreciate my own particular style of art; I’vegrown in my ability to be satisfied with my own work! What are some big take-aways from your years at Trinity?I have learned the skills to get along with others. The seven girls in my class have had to put aside ourdifferences, be willing to forgive and ask forgiveness, be a little crazy and silly with each other, and becomfortable being ourselves with each other. Also, in Humane Letters 11, we delved into philosophy and I started thinking about big questions like,“Who am I?”, “What do I believe?” and “What are my foundations?” Dr. Robertson taught me how tothink critically, pointing out if there were holes in my thought process, so I could form a betterargument. Katie's motto:Come to school expecting it to be a good day.

Lourdes Molina Curin

Lourdes will be studying nursing at the University ofPortland this fall. After devoting lots of time with kidsworking at the after-school SUN program the past coupleyears, she would like to combine her love of children withnursing in the pediatric field. When you look back on your years at Trinity, whatare you grateful for?I came to Trinity as an 8th grader the year I moved to theUnited States from Guatemala. My friends at Trinity (andDr. Clark especially) helped me learn English andassimilate to America. The relationships that I haveformed at Trinity have been so important to me.

I am also thankful for the opportunity to play volleyballand basketball at Roosevelt high school. I am glad that Icould be a support to my teammates, many of whom don’t

have much attention at home or at school. In Guatemala, education is considered a privilege and I am thankful that the students and teachers at

Trinity approach education with a similar intentionality. Do you have a favorite memory?Yes! Winning the squad competition this year! Go Squad 8! We stuck together and worked hard to getthe job done.

What challenged you at Trinity?I found Latin stretched me to be very organized in my thinking and approach to language. It is like abig puzzle to solve. Any final thoughts?Work hard. It is going to get you through anything.

Gladys Ramirez Eusebio

Gladys is looking forward to studying socialentrepreneurship at Warner Pacific, a program thatstudies the collaboration of business and communitybuilding. She dreams of setting up a business where ajanitorial services company could connect single momswith affordable housing, safe childcare and employment. Where did you get the inspiration for wanting tostudy entrepreneurship?I was introduced to the world of owning my own businessat age 13 when my dad came up with the idea that mysiblings and I could pool our resources and begin acandy machine business. We had saved our allowancefor years and had enough money to buy a couple candymachine routes. This business has grown such that nowmy siblings and I own 45 candy machine routes! So,entrepreneurship has always been a part of my life. Also,

as the eldest English speaker in my family, I have gone out on bids for years with my father for hisjanitorial business. What role has Trinity played in your growth?I have learned to love learning. This is a big change from my middle school years at my previousschool. I have had to work hard to transform old habits of just “being’ in school from 8 am-3 pm, intogood habits of prioritizing school, good time management, and being disciplined. I am now motivatedby the beauty of learning. What's your favorite Trinity book?Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens was my favorite. I love how Dickens exposed the humanity of thecharacter Sydney Carton and how despite his faults, Sydney had an innocence of heart. What did you try at Trinity that was new to you?Drama was the big surprise for me! I loved learning how to act alongside my classmates. [Editor note: Gladys was Amy in Little Women, Viola in Twelfth Night, Crazy Lady in War of the Worlds,and Stephana in The Tempest. She brought a lot of energy and laughs to the stage!] What would you like to tell your fellow Trinity students?Don’t limit yourself. It’s ok to be in the spotlight, as you may learn you have more to give than youoriginally thought. And always work hard in everything you do.

Hannah Glover

Hannah will be heading to Eugene the University of Oregonthis fall. She plans to study Biology as a Pre-Medical orPhysical Therapy educational track.

You came to Trinity in 2012, in the second year Trinitywas open, in the first 7th grade class. You (and Katie)even joined in the Trinity choir during the first yearwhen there were only six students in the studentbody! So you have seen the school grow from its verybeginnings. What are some of the highlights for you? I love that I really know everyone, all the students in everygrade, the entire faculty. We are such a close-knit family.That is one of the best things about Trinity. My classes and my teachers at Trinity have taught me howto think. I have learned principles of how to make gooddecisions. I have learned values after which to model mylife.

All these years at Trinity have developed in me an excitement to learn new things. I have developed asense of wonder and curiosity. I can’t wait to go now and continue learning! Favorite book?Oh there are so many favorites! Confessions by Saint Augustine. I was moved by his bravery inexposing his sin for the world to know. I have thought a lot about what Augustine said about sin, andthe challenge Augustine presents us to come to grips with our own sin. I also loved Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment and The Brothers Karamozov, and how the authorputs you into the head of the characters. And translating the Aeneid from Latin was so fun! Advice to pass along? Spend the time to get to know your classmates and teachers and love them for who they are. They willadd so much to your life. Everyone at some level is searching for community. I’m so glad to be part ofthe community here at Trinity!

Kadja Haou

Kadja has been accepted to the Nursing degree program atCarroll College in Montana, and plans to add a Spanishminor. When asked about favorite memories, Kadja recallsthe fledgling years at Trinity Academy:I joined Trinity as an 8th grader in Trinity’s second year, asone of only ten students. I remember visiting the school(housed in the basement of a church) in the first year whenthere was only six students, and thinking, “Yes! This is theschool for me!” I was with three other girls in a combined 7thand 8th grade, and in following years shared classes withMary Tomassi who was a grade ahead of me. I took theopportunity to study abroad in France for a year last year,which makes it possible for me to graduate with Katie andHannah that I started with all those years ago.

What do you like about the curriculum at Trinity?I love the diversity of literature that we read at Trinity. I have been exposed to many books that I wouldnot have picked up on my own. Singing has been my big stretch, but just like in all subjects, Trinitypushes me to go the extra mile. In fact, that’s one of the biggest things that Trinity has taught me, is togo the extra mile of my own volition. When we start Trinity as a young student, we can more easilylearn the habit of internal motivation. Science classes are the fun classes for me, in particular biologyand chemistry!

Advice to other Trinity students?Do the work. Do the work and form the habit of working hard. Practice going the extra mile, and thework will get easier as the habit is set.

Kadja and Katie and Mr. Dr.Longshore

2012 Lourdes2013

Hannah and Mr. Rymsza2012

Teresa, Claire and HannahTwelfth Night

2017

Katie and HannahChristmas Concert

2012

GladysThe Tempest

2018

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