During my conversation with new Admission Associate Ms. Nicole Larios, she immediately expressed how Westridge already feels like home to her. I was pleasantly surprised by this sentiment, especially since we’d met only after a month of being a part of the community. “I’m really glad that I’m here because I think it’s a great mission and a great place to be,” Ms. Larios said.
Ms. Larios described her motivation for applying to Westridge after working at Polytechnic School: “I was just craving newness. I was craving a little bit of anonymity and a quote, unquote, fresh start.” Ms. Larios believes she has always lived with an adventurous spirit, describing her desire to “move to another continent on the opposite side of the world, with a completely different language.” This mindset led her to move halfway across the world to attend college in Shanghai.
At New York University Shanghai, Ms. Larios majored in Chinese Culture and Society and minored in Comparative Literature. Ms. Larios enjoyed a year in Shanghai but ultimately returned back to Los Angeles and transferred to Pasadena Community College (PCC). After a year at PCC, Ms. Larios secured a spot at UC Irvine, where she finished her schooling. Although diverse, she felt disappointed by her college experience, explaining, “I would love a redo because [it] was so fragmented.” After pursuing her degree, Ms. Larios wanted to move onto the next phase in her life.
Prior to Westridge, Ms. Larios returned to Polytechnic School, which she attended from Kindergarten through 12th grade. She worked as an Admission Associate alongside her mother for two years. Ms. Larios enjoyed working there much more than her time as a student and felt it made her re-appreciate the school. Although Ms. Larios enjoyed her time at Polytechnic, she decided she was ready to join a new community and embrace change. Ms. Larios said that Ms. Bonnie Pais Martinez, Upper School Dean of Student Support, is the one who originally forwarded the application to her. After reviewing the values of Westridge and touring the campus, she decided to apply.
While she noted she felt appreciated at Poly, she feels more influential at Westridge. She said, “regardless of the reason they come here. I think they stay here, if anything, because they feel really heard, and they feel like the environment that you’re in, [that] really values your voice.”
When she’s not walking around campus or working in her “cottage-core” office, Ms. Larios teaches hot yoga two to three times a week at a studio in Pasadena. Ms. Larios thoroughly enjoys Middle and Upper School Yoga Teacher Ms. Courtney Seiberling’s employee yoga classes. She thinks teaching yoga to students is important and a valuable part of the Westridge curriculum. Ms. Larios appreciates the unique traditions and classes that are part of the Westridge community. She is especially excited for the Yam Festival and hopes it will be as fun as Greek and Roman Initiation.
Ms. Larios loves the Westridge community and expects to enjoy it for years to come!
And while she’s lived in Shanghai and speaks Mandarin fluently, ultimately, she feels most welcome on the Westridge campus.
