Meet Cherry!
Cherry joined our virtual program in April of 2023 and is now one of our graduating seniors in the Class of 2025, alongside two other virtual students. Throughout their time here, Cherry has taken on several leadership roles and has been actively involved in various aspects of our community. One of their favorite positions has been serving as the Virtual Planner Agent, where they manage the weekly schedule and organize daily activities for the virtual program. In addition to that, Cherry served as the student advocate, a student buddy, and has been a member on multiple committees. Some of these committees include the Conflict Resolution Committee, Virtual Community Development and Engagement Committee. For the 2024/2025 school year Cherry was also the school meeting elected member on the Board of Trustees!
Being a student at The Open School has been a new and rewarding experience for Cherry. Taking on various leadership roles has allowed them to develop a stronger sense of responsibility and build valuable skills they will carry into the next chapter of their life. Their experiences have helped them become more comfortable advocating for themselves and engaging with others–skills that will be especially useful when communicating with professors and teachers in college. They’ve also grown more confident in utilizing available resources and asking for support when needed. Overall, Cherry has more confidence within themselves and in their conversation skills with professional people.
Cherry shared: “Something important I realized here was to always speak up and say something, even if you think you are the only one. Because there is usually always someone else thinking the same thing that can’t speak up themselves. So speak up for yourself, fight for yourself and for others, do not be quiet. If others can’t do that you definitely should because it will help you improve as a person and it helps the people around you too.”
During Cherry’s time here, they have formed many meaningful connections with students and staff. They especially valued the quality time that they spent with our staff members–learning about their life experiences and having the freedom to ask questions and be curious. As a student here, Cherry has appreciated the space to express themselves and admires how every individual is creative in their own ways.
Cherry shared: “The school is very good at letting you explore your interests and doing what you want. If you have any goals or passions that you may not know how to reach or can’t do it by yourself, there are so many people who can help you do those things in this community. Just being a part of this community is an amazing resource in itself.”
An example Cherry gave was: “The school has lots of cool opportunities to do unique things that other schools do not offer. We did a figure drawing class for free with a major professional which was really cool. Or if there is something a student needs to buy to pursue their education the school will provide it for them. I really enjoy the student resource budget that our school meeting offers. I requested an art tablet to further my art education and this is not something I could have bought for myself. This tablet is very useful for me and the field I am wanting to go into, just by being here I was able to receive something that will benefit me for a long time.”
Reflecting on their two years here, Cherry has made so many special memories with the people around them. From late nights spent gaming and laughing with friends, to our Thursday community hangouts filled with hilarious Mad Libs stories, these moments have meant a lot to them. One especially memorable day was a trip to the Long Beach Aquarium with two of their closest friends from school, Jay and Jimmy!
Cherry also shared some other meaningful memories:
“Last year during Camp IRL, I stayed over for one night, and me, Lexie, Jimmy, and Carson stayed up all night having heart-to-heart conversations and connecting on such a special level.”
“There was one day earlier this year when all my friends cycled through several different voice channels, staying together and talking basically all day. It was so fun to do activities with everyone there, instead of just one or two people.”
Another memory was in April of 2024, Cherry planned a school trip to Los Angeles, California. This was a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the environment of movie-making! The goal was to explore the world of film production and animation up close. During the trip, they toured multiple movie studios, gaining behind-the-scenes experience into how films are made. Visiting production spaces and being surrounded by professionals in the industry really gave Cherry the insight that this is the thing they want to pursue in their life. During their adventure, they bought two books: “101 Things I Learned In Film School” and the making of one of their favorite movies “The Mitchells Vs. The Machines”. Reading and seeing how their favorite movie was made really inspired them to want to make movies like that in the future.
Cherry’s advice to anyone considering doing a school trip is: “Do not procrastinate with the money. Get a job as soon as possible. Also do not be afraid to ask questions while on the adventure. I was around so many people in the movie industry and wanted to ask a lot of questions. If you are in a place that means something to you, ask the people there questions!”
In 2024, Cherry began their introduction into movie-making by enrolling in their first screenwriting class at Santa Barbara Community College. The course started in September, and since then, they’ve engaged in various lessons on how to write, refine, and eventually publish or produce screenplays. As part of the course, Cherry also had the opportunity to speak with a professional screenwriter and published author, gaining valuable insight into the industry.
They continued with the second part of the screenwriting class in February of 2025 and are set to complete the third and final course in the Fall of 2025. In addition to screenwriting, Cherry plans to attend Santa Barbara Community College after graduation to earn their associate degree. Afterward, they plan to transfer to the University of California, Santa Barbara to pursue a career in animation!
Cherry would like to thank their mentors, Jessica and Cassi, for helping them prepare for both short- and long-term goals and for supporting them in reaching their full potential. Anytime Cherry showed interest in something, ideas and guidance were always offered on how to pursue it. They’re deeply grateful for the people and resources that allowed them to explore their passions freely during their time at The Open School!
