Zoe Weintraub is San Clemente High School's National Honor Society vice president. She founded a club that registers students to vote. She earned a full scholarship to USC. She loves William Faulkner. Most recently, Weintraub, who lives inSan Juan Capistrano, was the only student honored for the 2008 Ambassador for Peace Awards. This graduate told us about her future plans, and why working hard is better than taking it easy.
Q. Why were you given the Ambassador for Peace award?
A. Because of my involvement at high school. I do a lot. I started a club: JSA – Junior Statesmen of America. From there, we registered all eligible seniors to vote. I put that on with the help of the principal. I was also awarded two presidential service awards.
I was nominated "Triton of the Year," and I think these two awards were really validation of everything I put my heart and soul into these past few years.
I'm involved in the Leadership Institute for Teens. There we learn about global issues, local issues, how you can make an impact for change. I've been doing that for four years. We plan speakers, activities, and how we want to get through to kids about how we can effect change.
Q. What kind of change?
A. Before you can effect change in South Africa, you have to start with yourself, and make yourself whole as a person. For some people, they might be interested in global things, but they could start a club to help tsunami victims. Then again, you could start here in San Juan and help a homeless shelter or a beach clean-up effort. LIST opened my eyes to how much one person can effect change on so many different levels.
Q. What has made you globally minded?
A. I would accredit it to LIST. I credit those teachers and classes to opening my eyes to different topics I might have been interested in, but didn't have access to.
Q. Have you done any travelling?
A. I really haven't, and that's what I'm excited to do. My parents are gung-ho about letting me travel abroad. I'd like to travel in Europe because I took French in high school, so mostly France, England, Spain, Italy, and the Middle East as well, which my mom probably wouldn't be too excited about, but it's inevitable because that's what I want to study.
Q. What are your interests?
A. I play basketball and tennis. I like to paint, hang out at the beach with friends. The normal things, I guess. I say I'm kind of like a juggler, that's my profession by day and by night, thanks to homework. I like to keep my plate full. Somehow if you have more things going on, you get more done.
Q. Do you ever just want to slow down?
A. I think I got that after college applications, but I kept active with sports. I think a nap is really the only time that I slow down.
Q. What college do you plan to attend?
A. I'm going to USC on a Board of Trustee's scholarship. I got a full ride, which is exciting. I'm going to study international relations and maybe minor in psychology or sociology or something like documentary film-making. I want an emphasis in Middle East studies.
