Hi, I’m Skye, Sophie “Skye” Sexton, a rising senior in the CORE Humanities program at Cleveland Charter High School in Reseda, California. I am passionate about social justice, politics and environmental initiatives, and am active in multiple non-profits focused on positive change in our society, our national dialogue and our climate. As a quotation of my grandfather, “optimism is a form of courage,” I am inspired and compelled to bring creativity to my interests, inclusivity to my projects, and confidence to my global outlook.

Me in my natural habitat - National Parks

Academics

  • Currently ranked #1 out of 587 in senior class

  • Unweighted GPA 4.0; weighted GPA 4.425

  • Named AP Scholar with Distinction 2024 (seven 5’s, one 3 in Spanish (non-native speaker), five more tests Spring ‘25 - 14 total)

  • California Scholarship Foundation - Gold Scholar, six semesters

  • Distinguished Young Women - Los Angeles, Spring ‘24:

    • Won Scholastics’ category

  • Won Personal Interview category

  • Won Extemporaneous Speaking category

  • Youth Board Delegate - Los Angeles Unified Gifted Student Committee

  • National Merit Finalist - pending for California

Activities

  • Writer’s Block - Literary Magazine, President (two years)

  • Model United Nations - Outstanding Delegate, USC & UCLA (four years)

  • Speech & Debate - State Finalist, California

  • Girl Scouts Gold Award (ten year member)

  • Drama Club - Actor, Head of Set / Program Design (four years)

    • Matilda

    • Fall Showcase - Pippin, Wicked

    • Catch Me If You Can

    • Rogues’ Gallery

    • Grease

    • Six

  • Café Night - Organized student-run open mic night

  • GSA / Harvey Milk Day - Planning and development

  • Background News - Developing social journalism project wtih Cleveland Core

  • Workshop of Dead Poets Society adaptation - Theatricum Botanicum

Activism

  • Growing Hope Gardens - Youth Board President

  • Topanga Women’s Circle - Raising funding and managing multiple put-ins across shelters in LA

  • Project Angel Food - “Food is Medicine” volunteer

  • Food Bank at DTLA mosque - Supporting food drive for the homeless during COVID

  • Earthwatch Research Institute - Researching pollinators to preserve their ecosystems in Costa Rica

  • Topanga Sages - Managing monthly dinner series for seniors

  • Intern for West Side Democrats - supporting campaign organization and voters’ registration

Summer Activities & Jobs

  • Cali-Camp Junior Counselor - Topanga, CA (varying)

  • Topanga Creates - Art Instructor (varying)

  • Oxford Summer Literature Camp - Summer 2022

  • EarthWatch Costa Rica, Research Internship - Summer 2023

  • Europe trip with Cleveland Core Junior Year group - Summer 2024

  • Civil Disobedience Workshop / Course - St. John’s College, Summer 2024

  • Camp Cabaret, Performer (ten years of summer participations)

  • National Parks - 41 Junior Ranger badges earned

  • Theatricum Botanicum summer playwriting workshop

Music & Sports

  • Guitar - six years (middle & high schools)

  • Piano - four years (childhood)

  • Violin - one year (childhood)

  • Saxophone - one year (middle school)

  • LA County Junior Lifeguards

  • Varsity Tennis - Freshman Year

  • Varsity Track - Freshman Year

“I have never had to face anything that could overwhelm the native optimism and stubborn perseverance I was blessed with.”
- Sonia Sotomayor