HIGH LIFE: A WEEKLY FORUM FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS : Top Accomplishments? Saving a Bee to Righting Social Wrongs

It might be as lofty as bringing about world peace or an end to hunger. Or it could be as simple as getting through the day or your homework. Everyone has goals--both long- and short-term varieties--and many of these have probably already been met. Hot Topics wonders, “What has been your biggest accomplishment in life?”

“Being able to go through an entire conversation without using my hands to get across what I mean.”

Jenine Bobst, 16, sophomore, Brea-Olinda

“Getting through high school this far without killing myself, and making Dance Production.”

Tricia Cook, 17, junior, Brea-Olinda

“Well, my life isn’t boring or anything, but I haven’t really done anything important. I did rescue a bee from a swimming pool once, but he tried to sting me so I squashed him.”

Jason Stein, 15, sophomore, Brea-Olinda

“Keeping the same boyfriend for nearly a year. It may not sound like much, but it takes a lot of effort.”

Carmen Cooper, 16, junior, Brea-Olinda

“I took all the towels out of the bathroom while my brother was taking a shower, and then I took a picture when he ran out naked.”

Mike Hallock, 16, junior, Cypress

“Getting my car.”

Emma Lai, 16, junior, Cypress

“Making it on both the swim team and newspaper staff this year.”

Marie Nelson, 17, junior, Cypress

“Getting straight A’s on my report card last semester.”

Christi May Flauding, 18, senior, Cypress

“Getting my driver’s license.”

David Casper, 17, senior, Cypress

“I am going to be a lawyer, so I am involved in mock trial.”

Stacie McGowan, 16, junior, Esperanza

“Making the tennis team at school.”

Jennifer Leuer, 14, freshman, Esperanza

“Playing basketball for Fullerton High School and winning the Freeway League championship in ninth and 10th grades.”

Wai Wo, 16, junior, Esperanza

“Being an exchange student to Spain for 2 months. It was the greatest growth experience of my life, and it took a lot to go to a strange country and live with strangers while my friends and family were back home. It was the hardest thing in my life to do, but I would do it again because nothing will compare with this experience.”

Adrienne Sereno, 17, senior, Estancia

“I see all my problems as a challenge; each challenge improves my ability to cope and survive.”

Albert Huang, 16, junior, Estancia

“Being able to go out and get a job on my own.”

Kirsten Aplin, 18, senior, Sunny Hills

“When I entered high school, I made a goal to be active in student government, and I got to be sophomore class secretary.”

Michelle Ligal, 15, sophomore, Sunny Hills

“I became aware of social injustices and have a grasp on how to alleviate them; (also) knowing there are two sides to a story and no one is totally wrong.”

Mayumi Takada, 17, senior, Sunny Hills

“Being a friend to someone who really needed it; both our lives are totally different now.”

Susie Hwang, 16, junior, Sunny Hills

“Going to modeling school.”

Stephanie Grant, 17, junior, Tustin

“Making it through the football season.”

Clayton Sellers, 18, senior, Tustin

“Making it to be the first varsity cheerleader of a hearing squad.” (She is hearing-impaired.)

Stacy Eilbert, 17, senior, University

“I passed calculus at UCI without having had trigonometry or pre-calculus.”

Charles Lloyd, 17, senior, University

“I am doing a pretty good job in my journalism class.”

Dongwon Rhe, 17, senior, University

“Making it through high school--almost--and all those college applications.”

Neerja Khurana, 16, senior, University

“Overcoming my fear of heights.”

Khanh Van Le, 16, junior, Valencia

“Being runner-up in 4-H for designing an outfit.”

Tania Bailey, 18,

senior, Valencia

“Getting the courage to go out for the swimming team.”

Carly Quintana, 16, sophomore, Valencia

“When I won third place in my piano competition.”

Dennis Ho, 15, sophomore, Valencia

“Winning the first chair (position) in Valencia’s wind ensemble.”

Cindy Cheng, 16, junior, Valencia

“Winning first place in the Health/Medicine category in the county science fair when I was in the ninth grade.”

Christine Caron, 15, sophomore, Valencia

“Learning to speak English.”

Urara Muraki, 17, junior, Valencia

“Being able to pass all of my classes.”

Belinda Molina, 15, sophomore, Western

“Never having an F on my report card.”

Linh Vo, 16, sophomore, Western