CLASS OF 2021

Featuring Christina Teodoro

Remarkable! Resilient! Revolutionary!

My name is Christina Teodoro, I am 17 years old and I am a new John Burroughs High School Alumna.

Through what artistic medium(s) do you most like to express yourself?
I tend to lean towards drawings and sketches. I usually use colored pencils, or a mixture of colored pencils and markers, however recently I have been experimenting with watercolor paints. Art gives me a way to express the ideas in my head in a way I can share with the world.


Describe your first experience with the arts while in the Burbank Unified Schools.
I started drawing for fun when I was in elementary school. Admittedly, I wasn’t the best, however it gave me joy to do it. I have one friend who is really good at drawing, and we traded tips. Even now we still exchange ideas and share artwork with each other. One of my first memories doing art within the school was an art day in 4th grade, where we took a photo and used cotton tips to recreate it with polka dots. Before that, I’d done drawings here and there, but nothing for school and always just doodles. This project inspired me to start creating my own more focused pieces.


What art experience in the schools are you most proud of and how did it impact you?
I have several artworks that I’m quite proud of, but the one I love most is surprisingly not a drawing. It was a mini pinch pot we made in 6th grade, that we designed and decorated. I made mine to resemble a little stove, complete with a pot and a spoon. I spent a long time on it, and it taught me that the longer you spend on a project, the better it will turn out. Don’t rush through projects, take your time.

What science or math experiences in BUSD impacted your future goals?
I remember back in elementary school I had a major love for science. I remember being super excited about the subject and wanting to do well on a particular test, so I read the textbook front to back. (I also liked reading, and figured “why not kill two birds with one stone?”). I ended up acing the test, which only added to my love of science! I began taking harder science classes and learning about different types of sciences, which led to my decision to be an aerospace engineer. While I’ve since changed my mind about aerospace, I still want to be an engineer. As for math, I recall being the one student selected to represent Providencia in Math Field Day. I ended up developing a love for math because of that experience, even though I struggled with certain topics. The struggle only encouraged me to push harder to reach my goal, because engineering requires a lot of math, and I had to push myself to understand it.


What advice do you have for younger students?
Don’t procrastinate, and don’t overdo it. Trust me, you’ll burn out quickly, and it won’t be fun. Make friends in your classes, and share notes and do study sessions together. It makes learning the material a lot easier, and helps alleviate some of the stress that comes with school. Don’t forget to enjoy yourself as well. Yes, school is important, but it’s not the only thing in life. Hang out with your friends, take breaks, and live your life.


Was there a moment when you realized that you as one person could affect change?
To me, the idea that “one person could affect change” makes me feel like there's only one person doing everything behind the scenes, and ignores the people who've helped and encouraged this one person. While yes, one person can do a lot, they can be far more effective with a group, instead of one person wearing themselves thin. Behind one person’s success are countless others, supporting them and helping them out. In Girl Scouts, whenever I tried doing major projects, it always fell flat, since I couldn’t do everything by myself. For example, in pursuit of my Gold Award, while yes, I was the person behind my idea, I never had to do it by myself. I always had a small team of trustworthy people to bounce ideas off of, and to help me with certain aspects of the execution. We learn to rely on other people to help, and to lead them down the path. It’s never just one person. So don’t be afraid to ask for help.


What is the most important thing you’ve learned during the pivotal, history-making pandemic?
Take care of yourself. It’s very hard to keep track of time without a set schedule, so make one for yourself. Between the isolation, the panic of 2020 and 2021, and the worry about life in general, taking care of yourself can easily get forgotten. Your health is just as important as all of those things happening outside. If you need to unplug and take a day just to relax, do it. Remember that you can’t help other people and do well in, well anything, if you’re not at your best, both physically and mentally.


Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Do you expect the arts and/or sciences to continue to play a role in your life and if so, how?
I plan on continuing along a scientific path, becoming an engineer, and keeping the arts in my life. Drawing helps me de-stress, and if I can make some extra money doing commissions, that’s a plus. In 10 years, I can see myself working on a project with a group of people I would consider a “work family.”  I don’t quite know all the details, after all, I can’t see into the future, however I know I’ll end up where I’m supposed to be, happy and content with my life.

JOIN US to celebrate the REMARKABLE, RESILIENT, and REVOLUTIONARY Class of 2021. Donate today to support their legacy for future students.