Lou Hug is a senior at the Mendocino Community High School, which she has attended for all 4 years. Many know her as a sweet, personable student with a sharp sense of humor. Lou describes her experience at the Mendocino Community High School as enjoyable. “I’m not academically focused- I procrastinate a lot. But I love all the teachers at the Comm School.” Though she is a community schooler, she takes classes at the high school, such as culinary, math, science, and art. Lou’s favorite part of the MHS school is Art with Rain, and the Culinary program- she enjoys cooking with her friends while listening to music, and she says, “I really feel like it helps me prepare for having to cook for myself.” 

As a Community schooler, Lou must plan and execute a senior project. She plans to make a documentary about the Community School, interviewing teachers, graduates, students, and parents. “When I was a freshman, I was completely different- It changed me for the better.” In her last year of Community School, Lou would like to “Be happy!” She says, “I’d really like to work on being happy with myself because I think that’s important since I’m gonna be living alone in a foreign country.”

After Lou graduates from the Community School, she plans to move to Paris, France, and live in a small flat there. She would like to go to language school to become fluent in french. Lou will then most likely attend a french college, which she is able to do as she has a dual citizenship. Though you can attend school in a foreign country without dual citizenship, you have to pay foreign fees. “I’d like the option to go to a French college, rather than an English college in France.” Lou plans to graduate then leave right after in the summer of 2020.

When Lou isn’t in school, she enjoys writing poetry, spending time with her friends, and walking along the headlands- or just being in nature in general. Something that has really helped Lou with school is “the support of my mom- she really helped support me through the academic and psychological challenges of school.” Finally, Lou advises all the underclassmen to “Balance school and your mental health. Like, definitely try your best, but don’t beat yourself up about getting every test and paper perfect. So do your schoolwork, but also have some fun!”