Student Outlook -- Lauren Loeb

Last week, as I was grabbing something at Gelsons market, I couldn’t

restrain myself from listening to a group of mothers awaiting their

elementary school kids talk about the recent allegations of a Corona

teacher and the supposed rampant drug use at Corona del Mar High School.

They chatted about how they could never send their children to an

environment such as Corona del Mar’s and let them associate with students

such as ours. I had to bite my tongue from interrupting their

conversation and left the market feeling stunned that people hold such

horrible misconceptions about the school that I have attended for the

past three years.

That is why I decided to use my column this month to clear up the

“talk,” not only for the naive mothers with elementary children but the

community as a whole, and fill them in about what Corona del Mar High

School is truly about.

For the record, Corona del Mar High is ranked as one of Orange

County’s top schools. Not only has it been named a California

Distinguished School twice, but it has also been awarded the prestigious

title of a Blue Ribbon School. Impressed yet, moms?

Besides our academic achievement, we have an outstanding athletic

program, as well as numerous clubs and extra activities, for students to

participate in. Contrary to what one may think, our student body consists

of a large number of academic and athletic achievers who spend their time

productively and diligently. Our staff includes not only top-notch

teachers, but helpful sources such as a career center for students to

discover their future, and we’re also one of the only schools that

provides a college counselor who works one on one with students,

assisting them through high school and the college admission process.

Although we have often been accused of being “spoiled rich kids” who

have nothing better to do than waste our time participating in shameful

activities, all those wide-eyed community members should be informed that

we are just normal students going about our day, with nothing too

exciting that is worth the community gossip or the headlines.

Although Corona del Mar High does have its faults, as does any other

school in the United States, we deserve way more credit than the

community seems to give the staff and students. Rather than bash Corona

del Mar High without actually being a part of our school, don’t believe

everything you hear, because not only should you want to send your kids

there, but you should feel lucky to give them the privilege of attending

such a highly acclaimed school. So for all those moms at the market,

sorry to upset your afternoon chat, but some good advice is to find

something else to gossip about, because you truthfully won’t find

anything worth talking about at Corona del Mar High.

* LAUREN LOEB is a Corona del Mar High School junior whose columns

will appear occasionally in the Community Forum section.