Senior Spotlight: Christina Marie Roa
Christina Roa was a multi-faceted instrumentalist and artist. Her passions lie in graphic design, and she wishes she could travel to Paris, France, the world’s cultural and artistic epicenter in so many ways.
Instruments: Clarinet, cello and trombone
Plan for the future: I am planning on attending Moorpark Community College and majoring in Graphic Design.
Travel aspirations: My ideal location would be Paris, the capitol of France, because it is a global center of art, fashion, gastronomy, and culture, which is exactly what I am all about. It's known for its cafe culture and fashion boutiques, which would be amazing to check out. It also has fantastic architecture and it would be nice to have a change of scenery.
Proudest accomplishment: My greatest achievement in high school was fully opening up during senior year and getting close to my school mates because everyone I met and made friends with has made a big impact on me and has had my back. They made me who I am now and have supported me and led me in the right directions.
Favorite Memory: My favorite memory would have to be Sounds of Conejo because it was a great event that gave us the chance to perform our show in front of other schools just for fun with no award ceremony. It’s a great way to show what competitions are like for the incoming freshman.
Favorite musical piece/tune from high school: I have couple favorite pieces from high school, “The Eighth Candle,” “Sun Dance,” “Suite from Symphonie Fantastique,” and “Ghost Run.”
Most underappreciated thing about high school: The thing I miss the most about school that I never appreciated was the opportunities of making new friends and getting to know more people. Now that the rest of the school was taken away, I may never get the chance to speak to some of them again.
Quarantine activities: I have been focusing on increasing my abilities and skill in art and music. Specifically, I am trying to find my own art style and really just experimenting and having fun with every piece I make. I've also been working on perfecting my AP Studio Art portfolio and trying my best to get a high score.
What I've been watching in quarantine: I just binge watched a show called “Never Have I Ever,” and I thought it was a very cheesy but relatable series that I recommend watching if you like cringy relatable teen drama.
What part of the ACHS Music Program has had the most impact on you and why? During freshmen year marching season, we got a lot of 1st place awards, and I feel like that made me set high expectations for us, so whenever we would go home without any awards for the following competitions, I would be upset. During Senior year was when I realized that trophies don't determine whether we did well or not. Being satisfied and proud of our performance is what matters the most. This has made a big impact on my mindset because now I know that I don't need to be rewarded or praised to know that I am talented or skilled in anything I do. I just have to believe that I am, and I will be.
What would you say to your freshman self about the Music program if you could? I would say, "Don't be afraid to try new things and make new friends. Take advantage of the opportunities High School gives you."