Editor-in-Chief
A jack of all trades, senior Tripp Thomas has undoubtedly established a lasting impact at LGHS. Whether he is wowing crowds with his music, succeeding in some of the school’s most difficult courses, or striving to help others, Thomas does it all with unwavering dedication and an open mind.
Since he was young, Thomas has thrived in STEM, so his decision to pursue engineering came naturally. He reasoned, “Engineering was a solid option to continue being creative with science, math, and physics.” Next year, Thomas is attending the University of California – Los Angeles (UCLA) to study aerospace engineering. He described his choice: “I’ve always had a deep affinity for space, you know, the cosmos – it’s cool stuff.” Thomas is particularly looking forward to UCLA’s academic prestige and in-state location not far from the beach – an aspect ideal for his surfing hobby.
One of Thomas’s most notable contributions to LGHS has been AdvoCATS, a peer-to-peer group he started last year to help students transition to high school. He recalled that “there were a lot of things that weren’t talked about” in pre-high school advising and explained, “For example…when you go to high school, a lot of the time your friend group will evolve and shift. I didn’t remember hearing about that in middle school, so I got together with peers, and…we just did it.” Since its start, AdvoCATS has supported middle school students with real, accessible advice; the group presented at Fisher Middle School last year, and they have another visit planned.
Even beyond AdvoCATS, Thomas is an active member of the community; he publicizes student voices as a member of LGHS Reality Check, works as a tutor and markets for their company, and plays water polo on the school’s varsity team.
One of Thomas’s newest endeavors, however, is the band that he started with seniors Luca Difu, Nick Buller, and Sean Iversen this year. He explained that they focus on rock music, and one of their current favorite songs to play is Everlong by the Foo Fighters. “We really only had a few weeks to practice for [our first performance], but now we’ve been playing for six plus months, and…our rhythm that we have together is definitely a lot more elevated,” he reasoned. Thomas plays the guitar, an instrument he taught himself to play as a freshman.
Reflecting on his inspirations, Thomas deemed his grandfather his biggest role model. He reasoned, “He really instilled in me this idea that serving others is something that isn’t just important – it’s a need that you have to have in your life… And I take that with me wherever I go.” He continued, “Starting AdvoCATS was something to help serve the community, and that’s not only fulfilling…it’s my duty as a human being.” This philosophy also influenced Thomas’s intent to join UCLA’s Engineers Without Borders program where, in his words, engineers “go into the world and do good with their skills, not looking for money, just fulfillment for other humans.”
Looking back on high school, Thomas championed the importance of open-mindedness, advising, “If you have an opportunity, try not to waste it.” He concluded, “Everything starts as a small little idea, and if you’re willing to give it your full attention, even just for a little bit, [even though] more often than not you might fail, it’s honorable. It’s valiant to at least try.”