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Marshall Fundamental (Photo – ColoradoBlvd.net)

Marshall: The Culmination of My Youth

We define our lives through moments, through snapshots in which our beliefs, ideas, and opinions materialize; every conversation, every gesture, every expression is imprinted on a film in our memories, free to transform us day by day. And at the culmination of each of our life’s eras, we shelve away a highlight reel in the corner of our minds.

By Roaa Shaheen

As I peruse my latest reel, Youth, in the two months I have before it is shelved away, I see the most significant development of my person encased in the red-brick rooftops, mahogany window panes, and pale beige archways of Marshall Fundamental. I unroll the reel to four years ago: on the first day of 9th grade where I gripped the straps of my backpack tightly, short breaths echoing through the empty hall. It didn’t even take me a minute to locate the main office, barely two to get to my locker, and less than three to arrive at my first class. But in stark contrast to the little time were the weeks it took to discover all the AP classes offered and the extracurriculars I could choose from. I could join Symphony while playing on the soccer team, take part in NHS’ community service while joining a screenwriting club. Oh, and the months it took to familiarize myself with the cultural and religious identities my peers represented. I heard stories that originated on six of seven different continents and took part in both interpolitical and interreligious discourse. To me, Marshall was a microcosm of the world I’d soon enter, gifting me with the ability of choice and communication.

At the start of my junior year, the academic rigor was a combination of “exciting” and “daunting”. I linger on an earlier snapshot of us completing our first professional presentation and our more recent true research paper in AP Capstone. The critical thinking and independence competency that I obtained aided me well into my senior year and my first year of college. I’ve not only grown as an individual, but also as a thinker, a speaker, and a student of academia. I finger the most recent photo in the reel and roll it up, sealing it with my thumb. Perhaps it’s because of the life-lessons within it, but I have a feeling I’ll be picking Youth off the shelf primarily to flit through those last four years long after I turn eighteen.

Roaa Shaheen (Photo – marshalleagles1)

Roaa Shaheen is a Marshall Fundamental Class of 2020 Alumni. Her club activity included membership in the ACI Club, GirlUP, Key Club, the National Honor Society, Model United Nations (MUN). Her leadership roles include being the MUN Founder and President (11th and 12th) and the GirlUp President. She played Girls Tennis for two years and was a student volunteer at the Methodist Hospital. She was recognized by the College Board as an AP Scholar with Distinction. She is a National Commended Scholar and an AP Capstone Diploma Recipient. Roaa is attending Yale University, her major is Global Affairs/International Relations in the premed track.

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Marshall Fundamental (Photo – ColoradoBlvd.net)

Another Perspective

For background reference, my family is of Hispanic ethnicity. We received free and reduced lunch, and were raised by a single mother.

By Jonathan Garcia

My two younger brothers attended Marshall for two years before me because Marshall Fundamental was the school that offered the special education classes they needed. When I told my mom I wanted to go to John Muir High School because it was closer and the majority of my middle school friends were going there, she stubbornly, but kindly denied me. She first heard of Marshall Fundamental at a Rose Parade and saw Marshall Fundamental being announced. She later told me she was impressed and told herself that is where she wanted her children to go.

I am sure you may have heard of Marshall’s reputation for being good for academics and as a school that sends students to top universities. It is a diverse space that is inclusive, but not always. It is a place with dedicated, thoughtful teachers and staff and a place with people who promote the wellbeing of students. It has students who support each other, but it certainly has those who are exclusive and try to put each other down. I’ve witnessed bullying in hallways and by teachers. During my four years at Marshall Fundamental, I experienced a series of loneliness, curiosity, and exploration.

I proudly took part in Marshall’s athletic program and supported my fellow student athletes. A big part of athletics at Marshall is grades and having a stable academic standing in order to participate in its program. I joined the cross-country team late my freshman year out of interest in running and challenging myself. I became interested in the groups on campus and decided to join different clubs.

The clubs in Marshall were game changers for me. I was able to connect to my community through Unidos Club, the National Honor Society, and the Hispanic Honor Society. My friends and I were able to start a Math Club and get people interested in something important to me. When looking at the students who led some of the clubs on campus, I noticed passion within a couple of my peers.

I met new people and made friends but did not connect deeply with people. There was always a sense of comfort for students and the groups they were comfortable being around. Cliques formed and I got a sense of people staying comfortable around the same group of people that were formed during their first years at Marshall.

As I came out of my freshman shell, I felt I wasn’t able to connect deeply with people. I made friends that I could study with, friends I could laugh with, and friends I could count on, but not friends who challenged my ideas.

Jonathan Garcia (Photo – marshalleagles1)

Jonathan Garcia is a Marshall Fundamental Class of 2019 graduate. At Marshall Fundamental he was a member of the National Honor Society, the Hispanic Honors Society, Unidos (a Community Service Club), Frisbee Club, Chess Club, and was a founding member of the Math Club. He was a two-sport athlete running Cross Country and Track & Field and led the Cross-Country Team as Captain for three years. His community service included volunteering with DayOne Pasadena as a Youth Advocate, the City of Pasadena – Public Agency Teen Advisory Board STEAM Committee, and service on the Pasadena Ronald McDonald House Student Leadership Board. Jonathan attends Hobart and William Smith Colleges and was awarded the prestigious Posse Scholarship. He is majoring in Mathematics and his career interest is in engineering.