Coming from Spencer Butte Middle School, Rainier started his freshman year after the COVID-19 pandemic, which was a hard time for everyone. He claimed to have been a very awkward and non-sociable person, not knowing how to talk to people and make new friends.

Now, as a senior, he is able to talk to more people without feeling shy or awkward. In his sophomore year, Rainier was able to find new people with whom to create relations and become closer during a period of ongoing bomb threats to the school.

South’s IOP (Integrated Outdoor Program) also helped Rainier feel like he was a part of a community within South. It helped him to find the things he truly liked and wanted to explore more of. Rainier and his class got to try and experience new things, like going outside to a river and jumping in a wave train. This activity is something IOP students aren’t able to experience anymore, but Rainier got to, and it was an amazing experience for him.

Throughout high school, Rainier has been coming to terms with being genderqueer and neurodivergent. Although South is very accepting and understanding when it comes to these topics, Rainier still had to accept it himself and learn how to come out about to their peers and people at school. He had to learn how to express it in his own way. There are still people who don’t understand, so he has to take that into consideration and realize not everyone is the same when it comes to certain things.

Rainier was able to offer a key piece of advice to those continuing on at South. 

“Don’t force friendships.” 

In his freshman and sophomore year, he would go to school clubs, find people to have new friendships with, and even give them gifts when they weren’t really genuine friends. When you find people who are your friends, Rainier believes that it will come naturally to you instead of feeling forced. 

Rainier has found what he wants to do in his future. He is going to major in outdoor leadership at Pacific University, which is in a great spot near Portland and the Oregon Coast; and Pacific will be providing a generous grant to cover tuition. With him now being more sociable, he knows he’ll be fine when moving into his college dorm.

Rainier has come a long way from the beginning of freshman year. He has found his passion and continues doing what he enjoys.

Article by Juliana Castro