As the new school year ramps up, students have a chance to decide what they want out of it.  set their sights on new horizons. Behind every desk are people working toward something big, whether it’s passing AP classes or learning a new trick. Here is a look at what fellow Bears hope to achieve in the months ahead.

Teagan Forcier-Koranda

For junior year, Teagan Forcier-Koranda has set high standards for herself both in the classroom and on the volleyball court. Her main focus this year is to maintain a 4.0 GPA, and she wants to improve her writing skills in her AP Language class. “[To] get really good at writing an essay really quickly. I haven’t always been the best at that, and just improve my writing skills, especially since I’ll need it next year when I start applying to colleges,” she said. 

Beyond academics, Forcier-Koranda is starting volleyball recruitment, as she hopes to play  Division III. “I’ve been really into dancing on the sidelines at my volleyball games, so I might add some cool dance moves, like a break dance move,” she said.

Her parents motivate her to stay on top of her goals. “Both [my parents] went to really really good schools and I think they set a really good example for me and my sister,” she said.

Her main resolution for the year is to support herself. “Be kind to myself, give myself a little bit of grace, because normally I’m really hard on myself,” she said. 

Carter Van Der Pyl

For sophomore Carter Van Der Pyl, his main focus this year is staying on top of his academics, even as his classes become more challenging. His main academic goal is to get above 90% in his English class.improve his grade in [insert the specific class]. “I want to have above a 90% in English,” he said. 

Van Der Pyl acknowledges that the increased difficulty of his classes could make reaching his goals more challenging. “This year is harder, so it’ll be harder to reach my goals,” he said. His mom also motivates him to stay focused. “She wants me to do good in life,” Van Der Pyl said.

Van Der Pyl also has a few personal goals for the year. “It would be cool to do a backflip or something,” he said. 

Hudson Brazeal

Senior Hudson Brazeal’s primary academic goal is set on his performance in AP Calculus AB, where he is aiming to get a four in math on the AP test. Going into his final year of high school, he has a much broader perspective and is prioritizing having fun throughout this year.

Outside the classroom, his passion lies in theater. His biggest goal of the year is to receive callbacks from top drama programs, including Northwestern, NYU, UCLA, and Syracuse. He hopes to turn his theater skills into a potential professional career as a stage actor. 

Keeping him motivated in his craft is Ms. Bathauer, his drama teacher, who he credits as a really hardworking and a great director. As he navigates this year, his message to others: “It takes nothing to be kind.”

Dylan Zamora

Junior Dylan Zamora’s main academic goal this year is maintaining A’s and B’s, with a specific focus on his science pathway. “[I want to] pass my biotech class this year and next year take AP Biotech,” he said. As the workload ramps up, he is also focusing on daily habits and making a point of getting to class on time consistently. 

Outside the classroom, he is learning the guitar from his dad, and is setting high expectations for himself on the soccer field. His largest soccer goal is to make a deep postseason run with M-A’s team and get to states. Looking down the road, he hopes to take his passion for soccer to the next level, aiming to play professionally. He also is interested in becoming an entrepreneur. 

He credits his mom for helping him stay on the daily grind. “She pushes me to be great,” he said. Zamora’s strategy for tackling the rest of the school year is simple: “Keep working hard.”

Vaiokiu Taimani

For Vaiokiu Taimani, her junior year is all about stepping up her game and getting organized. Her primary goal in school this year is to receive straight A’s and wants to avoid having missing assignments. “Last year I didn’t really lock in, and this year I’m locking in,” she said. 

Beyond the classroom she is working on surrounding herself with a healthy environment. She wants to keep her friendships strong while avoiding unnecessary drama. When it comes to learning a new skill, she also would like to learn how to do a backflip. 

Taimani also says it is important to have a good support system during junior year. She credits her best friend, Madeline Myers for being with her throughout the year.

Cole Aylaian

For Cole Aylaian, senior year is all about crossing the high school finish line and looking forward to his future. His ultimate goal is simple: “Get in my dream school and be done with high school,” he said.

He has shifted this year towards hard work on college applications, and his dad keeps him motivated. “He’s always on top of me,” he said. 

Beyond the stress of applications, he has taken up a creative passion for film-making. He creates documentaries with friends about people recovering from drug addictions and sees filmmaking as something he may want to pursue in the future. 

If he could master one skill by the end of the year, Aylaian would want to do a backflip.

Micheal Dashouk

Freshman Micheal Dashouk’s year is all about enhancing his focus and pushing through tough challenges. His main academic priority is to improve his performance in AS Algebra II. “I didn’t really start the year that strong in that class, and it’s a pretty hard class to pass. So I’m just gonna try my best [to get an A],” he said. 

His dad motivates him to stay determined as he continues to work on healthy habits. “My dad [teaches me] a bunch of things that could actually really help me and gives me motivation to do better,” he said. He wants to stay longer and spend more time focusing on his homework. 

Beyond the classroom, he hopes to bring that same drive to the pool as a swimmer. He aims to meet the Far Westerns Championship time standards this year. He also appreciates swimming as a great source of connection. “It’s just a fun sport. I can hang out with friends, go to new places, meet new people, and it’s just a good experience,” he said. 

 He loves swimming because it builds his perseverance while letting him hangout with friends and meet new people.

Kaylee Zhong

Sophomore Kaylee Zhong has set high academic standards for herself this year. She is aiming for straight A’s in all of her classes and working to receive five’s on the AP Computer Science Java, AP World, and AP Calculus AB exams. She feels last year was about understanding high school, while this year is about working towards her future. 

Beyond school, she is focused on broadening her social horizons. She serves on the Menlo Park Youth Advisory Council, and wants to make an impact on her community. If she had to master a skill by the end of the year it would be to learn card tricks.

For inspiration, Zhong looks to an unexpected role model, Kurt Cobain. She admires how he used his platform to advocate his beliefs and respects that he stood by his principles, even when facing opposition.