Senior Spotlight: Manny Quezada

May 30, 2019

As President of the Student Government and the Volunteer Club, a Student Ambassador, a member of the National Honor Society, Captain of the Boys Varsity Soccer and Volleyball teams, and a full IB Diploma candidate, senior Manny Quezada has taken full advantage of the many of the opportunities provided to him at Léman. "Coming from Monterey, Mexico, my hometown, I didn't know what to expect when I arrived at Léman in the 9th grade," he said, "I thought it would be like the typical American high schools I'd seen in the movies, but it turned out to be so much better. There are a lot of opportunities that the school offers, including academics, sports and clubs. I was kind of shy when I got here but as I started to feel more comfortable, I started to get more involved, and I'm glad that I did."

In addition to his variety of leadership positions and activities, Manny is also a full IB Diploma candidate. "The IB is really difficult, but it teaches you a lot including how to think and how to study. I couldn't have done it without my counselors and teachers," he said. But he does think it prepared him well for college, "I feel I'm going to do well next year because I'm already working on a college level," he said. That sense of confidence will serve him well when he enrolls at Brown University in the fall, ranked #14 in National Universities by US News and World Report. "I'm excited to go to Brown because they have an open curriculum, which means you can explore different subjects before you decide what you want to major in. I think I'm going to do something in the STEM fields, but I'm happy that I have the opportunity to try different things."

Although Manny's excited to graduate next week, he also says he will miss Léman. "I'll miss the community that I've formed here, including my friends and my teachers. Léman gave me a lot of support and opportunity that helped me be successful when I applied to college. I'll stay forever grateful to the school because of everything it's given to me."

Congratulations, Manny! We are sure you'll be successful at Brown and beyond!