Sophomore Violet Geyer has always lived in Oregon, previously attending Winterhaven Elementary School — which according to Geyer is a math and science focused school — for both her elementary and middle school. Geyer believes that there was a good community at Winterhaven, making it feel like everyone was friends with one another.
At La Salle, part of her course load includes three honors classes: Honors English II, Honors Geometry, and her current favorite subject, Honors Chemistry.
In Honors Chemistry, while there are times where she finds the class challenging, she thinks it’s rewarding when she can understand the concepts she previously didn’t.
Geyer’s decision to attend La Salle was shaped primarily by her family. Her mom used to work at the school, and her older brother — now a junior — is a student as well. Both spoke highly of the environment and the social atmosphere, which helped guide her choice.
Grades, she said, occupy a lot of her thoughts.
“I think about them a lot,” Geyer said. “I know they’re not all of me. I know there’s more to me than my grades, but I don’t like [it] when they’re bad.”
Geyer said she knows that her identity goes beyond academics, even if grades take up a lot of her focus.
She explained that she plans to put consistent effort into school, and tries to find satisfaction in knowing she’s tried her best — even if the final result isn’t perfect.
When she struggles with a topic or feels confused, Geyer goes to her friends.
From La Salle to Irish dance or future job prospects, community plays a big role in Geyer’s life.
Geyer was one of three students who performed at La Salle’s Roots Week assembly this year as a part of the Irish Dance Academy, and has done Irish dance since she was young.
“I really like the community,” Geyer said. “It’s fun. I really like all the girls I dance with.”
In the future, Geyer has hopes about obtaining a job as a camp counselor. She has coached swimming, and would like to pursue similar jobs.
Geyer’s tastes in music are influenced by her emotional state. If she’s down and wants to feel happy, she’ll put on an upbeat playlist.
“I listen to pop music — the really popular songs — and any basic playlist,” Geyer said.
Geyer credits her parents as the driving force behind her strong work ethic.
“I would say they’re very hard workers,” Geyer said. “Seeing them do that, I want to follow that.”
This mindset has propelled Geyer into her current schedule of multiple honors classes. She suggests students considering a similar academic load to maintain regular communication with their teachers and carve out sufficient study time.
For incoming students weighing La Salle as an option, Geyer offers a few words of advice.
“I would say that they should,” Geyer said, adding that, while “they have to be ready for a lot of learning and a lot of work for the learning,” because the environment and education is really worth it.
