I had just turned twelve and both my older sisters had left for college, when my father and stepmother of a year decided that we were moving to Northern California to a remote town called Paskenta. Two years prior to our move we had purchased a ranch of over 3,500 acres for cattle ranching, something my dad had always dreamed of doing. Paskenta has a population of about 100 people or less. Our ranch is so remote that to get into the nearest town for a grocery store or a gas station it would take about an hour on the country roads. Under those circumstances my parents decided that it would be best to go to boarding school where I would have more opportunities for growth.
My parents decided on the Ojai Valley School. I was beginning the seventh grade when I started at Ojai as a boarding student. It was hard at first to be so young and living away from home but everyday it became much easier for me. My first roommate was a year older and from Korea, which goes to show how diverse the student population was there. That in itself had taught me a lot about other people and the world around me. My second year as an eighth grader at boarding school I was chosen to room with a girl who later became one of my best friends.
As graduated approached my dad gave me the option of choosing where I would continue my education. I applied to boarding schools throughout Southern California but decided that I would be in my best interest to stay at Ojai Valley throughout high school as well. As a freshman I roomed with a girl named Cindy from Modesto, CA. As a sophomore I roomed with Quiara again, the roommate I had been with throughout eighth grade at the lower campus. I roomed with Chelsea later, during my sophomore year when Quiara left school for medical reasons. After Chelsea I roomed with Amelia and my senior year I was given the privilege of rooming by myself.
The high school alone only had about 120 students, which meant we were one huge family. Everyone knew everyone and nothing was kept a secret at school. It was such a unique environment to be brought up in and I feel that I am fortunate to have been afforded such an opportunity. I am so much more aware of my surrounding both socially and culturally, and I feel that having basically been forced to raise myself from the start of my teenage years has really given me a head start in life because I am well prepared and equipped to manage a life on my own.
