EPISD Student Spotlight: Kiandra White, Transmountain Early College
(TRANSMOUNTAIN EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL Nov. 26, 2020) — TMECHS senior Kiandra White is dancing through high school, ready to achieve some major college and career goals in STEM, Asian languages and culture. The 2019-20 All-State Dancer balances her time between her extracurricular activities and academics as she prepares to complete her associate’s degree. Community Engagement sat down virtually with Kiandra in this edition of the EPISD Student Spotlight. Here’s her take on succeeding academically during the pandemic.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: How are you staying motivated and involved in school during the pandemic?
KIANDRA WHITE: I am trying my best to stay engaged in my hobbies and put effort into those hobbies. I find that they motivate me to work harder with my academics.
CE: What advice can you give to succeeding with remote learning?
KW: I’ve learned over this course of remote learning that time-blocking and organizing your materials how you normally would for in-person classes helps to mirror a similar routine. Having a routine helps to establish good work patterns.
CE: What are you doing to make the most of your senior year despite the pandemic?
I’m spending more time with my interests and engaging in virtual school activities with my fellow seniors.
CE: What are you going to study and how has TMECHS helped you achieve your academic goals?
I am going to major in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology and also pursue a minor in East Asian Languages and Cultures. TMECHS has helped me achieve my academic goals by placing me in STEM classes that encouraged me to think deeply as well as analyze critically, which will help me in my major. TMECHS has also helped me with pursuits in my minor by requiring a foreign language and allowing me to practice my language skills in and outside of the classroom.
CE: Tell us about Dance KRU and how the team is staying motivated during remote learning?
We as the Mavericks Dance KRU are trying to implement practices that we used in the classroom and adapt them to our new individual spaces. We also are planning virtual team bonding activities to better our sense of community within the team. As for performing, future performance dates are still TBA.
CE: How have you kept up school spirit during the pandemic?
The TMECHS Student Council has planned many virtual events and spirit weeks throughout these past few months in order to build moral and boost our school comradery and participation. Joining in on these events has certainly made an impact in my school spirit this semester and has kept the feeling of school pride alive.
CE: Tell us about your achievements in high school.
I have been Student Council Class Representative from my freshman year to my junior year and was elected Vice President this year as a senior. I was Mavericks Dance KRU Captain my sophomore and junior year. I am a Texas All-State Dancer 2019-2020. I have maintained a 4.30 GPA throughout high school. I will graduate with an Associate’s Degree of Science with endorsements in both Math and Science.
CE: What advice would you give incoming freshman?
I would say to find a good balance between your social life and your academic life. It’s important to do well in school, but you also want to make sure you take time for yourself and pursue the things that you’d like to do.
CE: What is the first thing you plan to do when the pandemic is over?
I plan to make up for all the travel time that I lost and will be visiting many different places!