2011 Students
Shona Estey-Edwards
I have never seen Shona dance, but I know that she is a dancer. In fact, the dance program at Nevada Union High School was the single thing that kept here there. And although we have no such program here at Finding the Good, Shona brings the grace and sensitivity of a dancer to everything she does. Never without her notebook, she is our writer. If you have followed this blog for awhile, you already know this. The images Shona shoots are the ones you see in your own imagination after reading her essays. Shona loves good organic food, so she fits right in here. On our last day in Ensenada, our dear friend Ezequiel took us to a citrus orchard to pick fresh oranges and mandarins. Shona was in heaven.
Forrest Blair
Forrest has spent much of his life living in different parts of the US – from Sacramento and Nevada City to Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Charlotte, North Carolina. He has learned to adapt to whatever environment he is in, and become a part of it. In order to do that, one learns to be a careful observer. Forrest is such an observer, and his keen sense of humor is informed by what he sees. At Finding the Good we seek out stories. Forrest is a natural storyteller who teases the humor out of nearly every story he tells. No incident is too insignificant for Forrest – he finds the profound in the simple and without even knowing it delivers it back to those around him who, without his guileless interpretation and impeccable timing, may have missed the pure joy of the moment.
Tyler March
Public school is not the place for a young man like Tyler. On his FtG application, he described himself as a “caged animal” at the big high school he was attending in Sacramento. Halfway through the FtG semester, I think he might still be an animal, just not a caged one. Tyler’s mind works overtime and he can scan his environment like a panther, taking in every detail in microseconds. This faculty contributes to his ability as a photographer, an art he would like to pursue past the amateur level. With his “let’s do it” attitude that can tackle anything he puts his mind to, I see him combining photography with wilderness conservation; adventuring into the wilds to document pristine places that the rest of us would never otherwise see.
-Profiles written by Debra Weistar
2010 Students
Nick Lee
Where do I fit into the creation of the extraordinary change I want to see in the world? Sixteen-year-old Nick Lee comes to Finding the Good with a desire to answer this burning question. He comes from the noise of life in busy Sacramento thrilled to be in the woods, close to the ocean, and immersed in the wild. Nick says he is drawn to these places because they supply him with perspective and inspiration. His favorite wild place is the marine environment, an environment he hopes to help protect and conserve. Nick began playing violin in the sixth grade and still jams on the bass guitar while friends fill in with other instruments. His reading interests are broad, ranging from the work of John Steinbeck to that of Alan Moore. Nick already has one plan for after his time at FTG. In May, he will travel to Washington D.C. with a group called Close Up, to see what kind of change he can help to create.
Profile written by Jon Manrow
Alex Depavloff
Alex Depavloff, 18, left the “big robot factory” two years ago. Switching in his sophomore year from a public high school in Nevada Co., California to a smaller charter school with a focus on individualized learning and the environment, he became awakened to and troubled by our society’s harmful actions towards the earth. Though born in the desert heat of Tucson, AZ, and raised partly in small-town New Mexico, he considers the foothills of Northern California’s Sierra Nevada his home. After attending Synergia’s Sustainability Camp his idea of freedom began to materialize – separated from the destructive system, living sustainably, relying little on outside sources, this, Alex believes, is true freedom. Though he sometimes foresees a bleak future for the planet and mankind, he sees a potential for positive change in educating the still malleable youth. Alex feels privileged to be here, excited for the coming experiences, and wholly ready to forfeit fast food and television. After the Finding the Good Traveling Semester he plans to attend college to study social justice.
Profile written by Andrew Payton
Natasha Alston
Natasha Alston grew up on the run. Although she has spent the last six years living in Sacramento, this is the longest she has spent in any one area. All of this moving around inspired in her a love for diversity and for discovery. In fact, this love created in her a desire to get out into the world and learn by experience, which, in addition to a love for observing the beauty of nature, is what brought her to Finding the Good. Her curiosity and ability to observe have bred in her a passion for both reading and writing, a passion that she has explored since the fourth grade when she coauthored a short story with a close friend. To this day she spends much of her spare time writing short stories and she is presently working on her first novel, a work of fantasy that serves as a reflection for real world questions that she approaches from a non-conventional perspective. Unlike many sixteen-year-old girls Natasha would much rather observe and contemplate the serenity of nature than search for new shoes in the hustle and bustle of a shopping mall.
Profile written by Forest Neff
Forest Neff
The search for inner peace is not the most common of goals for a seventeen-year-old. Forest’s hope is to not only find, but to strive for maintaining such a feat. Through the Finding the Good program he wants to discover a means of helping to preserve the earth and creating a sustainable existence for its people. Part of what he plans to give back to the world once the program is finished is the ability to take what he gains from his experience to others and help people step away from themselves and see the world at large. Getting away from the chaos of society and stepping back out into the natural world is a progression he has recently come to, though he sees it as a return for the world on a whole. From quiet moments of meditation to traversing nearly everywhere barefoot, Forest has already taken his first steps into getting back into accordance with nature.
Profile written by Natasha Alston
Genesis Napel
Sometimes you can tell a lot by a person’s appearance, sometimes looks can be deceiving. Genesis “G” Napel looks just like a 17-year-old skater boy, blue-eyed with a nose ring. You would never be able to guess that this sensitive young naturalist is striving to single-handedly change the world. “I don’t want to go without being remembered,” he says and smiles. “I live to stand out.” His morals and drive let him be just that. Compassion, inclusion, diversity, excellence and integrity are the code of Genesis. He applies his code to everything he does, from experimental painting to going to high school with Finding the Good. G’s personality shines through when he talks about what he loves. Somewhat of an enthusiast when it comes to life in general, Genesis loves the thrill of adventure. “I love jumping into really, really cold water” he chuckles, and it’s clear he’s done it before. “If I could be anyone I would be Peter Pan, because he can fly.” Genesis, just like Peter Pan, will be the boy who never grew up, adventurer for life.
Profile written by Annabelle Ziegenhagen
Annabelle Ziegenhagen
Annabelle Ziengenhagen is a German American, born in America with German parents. Three months after she was born she and her family moved to Germany, and then moved back to the States when she was eleven. Growing up in both countries, carrying both passports and knowing both languages, she feels as though she doesn’t know if she is German or American. Annabelle is a dreamer with a vivid imagination that analyzes any situation long before it happens. At 19 Annabelle says she considers herself to be a fear addict, too worried to step out of her shell and get over herself. A Pisces that hates water and seafood, but enjoys simple things like conversation over a glass of “grape juice” with fine cheeses and olives. She loves that you can tell a story through photography and says, “My camera is like my baby.” In life Annabelle wants to do what she wants to do and get by comfortably doing it.
Profile written by Genesis Napel