AHS Valedictorians: Jingtao Xia

Jingtao Xia reminisces about her high school career, the uncertainty that lay ahead, and her love for Agoura Hills.

Agoura Hills Patch: What was your favorite part about attending Agoura High School.

Jingtao Xia: My friends and our crazy antics. The senior officers of the Math Honor Society were invited last year to be a part of Senior Servants, and we did a little dance to the song "White & Nerdy" in full nerd gear, complete with multiple calculators hanging out of our pockets, a Rubik's cube necklace, and our MHS shirts with the logo "(A + M)(HS)" (stands for Agoura High School Math Honor Society) on the front and the design "X/0: Doing the Impossible" on the back. We were eventually bought by a Spanish teacher, Mrs. Wallace.

Patch: What kinds of activities were you involved in?

Xia: I was involved in a bunch of clubs at school. I was the treasurer of the Math Honor Society this last year, and that was really fun because I helped organize our annual math-related events, like AMC testing, Pi Day, and Math Olympics. I was also Sergeant-at-Arms and Vice President of Key Club, and we put on general community service events with other Key Clubs and Kiwanis clubs in our area. I also play the viola, oil paint, and volunteer at the Westlake Village library.

Patch: Where will you be attending college in the fall?

Xia: UCLA. I was split between going to UC Berkeley or UCLA, but I eventually chose UCLA because of all its opportunities. I'd taken a class there before during the summer, and my father works there, so I feel pretty comfortable at UCLA. It is so diverse and flexible that I could choose to do really whatever I want. That, and I like the general area of Westwood much more than Berkeley.

Patch: What do you plan on studying there?

Xia: Chemistry, though I might change it later. I don't know what I want to do in the future, but I do want to study something in the physical sciences, so I feel like Chemistry is general enough to get a feel for the area.

AH Patch: Do you think you will miss Agoura Hills?

Xia:  Of course. I love the area, and it's been my home since elementary school. Also, the weather is almost always perfect. I know some amazing people who still go to Agoura High and have had some brilliant teachers along the way. I'll definitely miss them and will visit during the school year.