Angelina: Okay, so my name is Angelina Waters Lopez, but I go by Angie. Nobody calls me Angelina. 

Juanita Soliz: Okay, What made you want to do this?

AWL:  Originally I had because I’m in theatre so I know a bunch of people from different grade levels. I saw the seniors do it my sophomore year and my junior year and then my junior year I got to know Mr. Rios and I’m like, oh, like, this seems really cool. And then the more that I found out about it, the more I was just kinda like, Oh, it’s a way to get in touch with your community and stuff. And I was born here. So I kind of wanted that aspect of being involved in stuff.

JS. How would you feel if you won?

AWL: I think I’d be really shocked. I think that’s for sure going to cry. I’m not a cocky person, if that makes sense. Like I’ve got another thing. And I’ve gotten those every single time I’m like, ‘Are you sure?’ So I think I’d be kind of shocked and I’d cry, but I think I’d also be excited. Just a whole whirlwind of emotion.

JS:  You are the vice president of Theatre. How long have you been?

AWL: I’ve been president only for my senior year because only seniors can be president. But, I was treasurer my junior year. And then I was an officer Member at Large kinda my sophomore year. And then I’ve been one of our people in charge of one of our tech areas, all my years of high school, and then I recently became an officer for the state of California last year. 

JS: So you really do enjoy it. 

AWL: Yeah, which is ironic, because when I first went to go, like when I first went, I wanted to because I performed a monologue in my Theatre 1 class. And my director left a note on my audition score, because I got a good grade on it. And she was like, oh, you should really come audition. And I went with my friend and I was so nervous. I was shaking and I wanted to be like, ‘I can’t do it. I can’t do it. I can’t do it.’ And I was like, turning up and I was gonna leave but this older girl who had talked to me before I was like, ‘No, you’re going in’ and took me in and I performed with a piece of paper in front of me and I was shaking. And then I had to do my interview portion and I sat down, and they could barely hear me.  Our president at the time was trying to ask me questions, but I would just look down and I’m like, ‘No, I’m so shy.’ 

It’s ironic because if someone has a class with me, I don’t talk in my classes. I say it completely silently. I like my friends a lot. But, the way my boyfriend describes it is I am the most unwilling outgoing person ever. Like I love to be outgoing. But I’m not an outgoing person. But I would like for myself to be.

JS:  How long have you known sign language? 

AWL: Okay. So it’s my first language. 

JS: Oh, it is?

AWL: Yeah, so I’m 17. So 17 years. Because my mom and my biological dad, they’re both deaf. And then my stepdad is deaf and then my bio dad has girlfriends that are deaf, and my brother is hard of hearing. All of my siblings are hard of hearing. I’m the only hearing one. I grew up knowing sign language because, obviously, I couldn’t talk like my biological dad because he doesn’t like to talk. So I would just sign and then my mom’s like, we could talk, but also like, she would make me sign. So I’ve had it my whole life, which is also crazy because I have above average hearing so it’s like I just like to take all of the hearing. 

JS: What do you like to do in your free time?

AWL: I’m really bad at that, because I’m really busy. Well, I’m a senior. And then I like to do  theatre. And then also I’m the president of our LGBT club here. And I’m in AP and I’m an Aspie.

I don’t have a lot of free time but I do, honestly, either like my friends, because I don’t really get to do that a lot. Or I would like to stay home and just read constantly for hours because I’m obsessed with books. When I was little, my brother didn’t like when we had the TV on with volume because it was weird so we kept the volume off. So I would just read the subtitles. Now I’m obsessed with reading. 

JS: If you could give any advice to a younger boy or girl, what would you say?

AWL: Honestly, I think it would be like, don’t let the fear stop you and don’t be scared to start something because I was like that  when I was younger. I stayed in the library because I was so scared of everything. Like, I would like to cry and call on us. I was terrified of everything. And it’s because I’m just a really shy person. But I am trying things. Trying has changed my life completely because if I didn’t try things my life would be completely different. Theatre scared me. SEO scared me. High School scared me. At one point, I was homeschooled because I was so terrified of everything. So it’s like, just don’t be afraid to fail at stuff. 

Because the things that have helped me the most are the things I haven’t gone in. Getting stuff is helpful, but it’s not so much once you get it that’s the part that changes your life. It’s more so the process and just try it because you never know if you’re gonna get it. Like the competition I went to last year. I applied for two scholarships. Literally when they were announcing the names, I turned to my boyfriend and I was like, ‘There’s no way I’m getting this. Like they’re also much better than me.’ And then I got it. So it’s like that, but I didn’t want to apply for it because I was so scared. 

So it’s like, just don’t be scared and also don’t doubt yourself. 

Don’t doubt yourself because if you don’t get it, you don’t get it, but at least you tried.  You don’t get it if you don’t try,  but if you do try, at least you put in that effort and that helps a lot.  Also don’t  be scared to be outspoken. Like don’t be quiet.  You don’t have to be the loudest voice in the room to have a strong opinion because  I don’t talk very loud. I talk very quietly and chill. But if you act confident in what you’re saying and believe what you’re saying, then other people will tell you.

Honestly, the best way to have a good high school experience is to not do everything that looks fine.  Find what you like to be involved in. It doesn’t have to be everything. It doesn’t have to be a lot.  You could be in a simple club, but also that’s how you make friends that are impactful in your life.  I have friends in my grade that are super impactful to me, that I wouldn’t have met.  For example, my boyfriend. I have been dating him for two years. He was an older grade than me. I wouldn’t have met him if I didn’t try stuff. So don’t be scared to not do something.  Just try it.