Malia Lux is one of those classmates who you’d think has been part of the grade forever, yet she actually came to Keystone just six years ago. She is a current member of the National Honor Society (NHS) and has formed part of Academic Worldquest, World Language Club, and Yearbook in previous years.
Malia’s favorite thing about Keystone is how easy it is to build close relationships with both peers and teachers. Our grade has been able to get to know each other very well and become almost like a family. She plans to continue the meaningful relationships she has developed after we inevitably go our separate ways after graduation.
Reflecting on moments our grade has been together, however, Malia recalls her favorite grade memory being the Yosemite trip we took our senior year. She was only able to attend two outdoor education trips during high school since they are usually aligned with showcase soccer club tournaments, so last semester’s trip stuck with her. Yosemite was beautiful, and she particularly enjoyed the facilities and incredible food we had while staying at the park. She felt like she was able to grow closer to her peers on this trip, and recalled unforgettable moments like Coach U leading the majority of the grade through the woods in the dark (while some people got lost). Another notable grade trip was our ninth grade one to Chaco Canyon, New México, where she even recalls our classmate, Ian, wrestling with our tour guide, Tim.
Malia considers her biggest accomplishment being recruited onto a college soccer team. She mentioned it has been her dream ever since she started playing 11 years ago. She plays club soccer, is a part of Corinthians FC, and has been dedicated to honing her craft for many years. Because of how much time and effort she puts into practice, soccer has remained Malia’s main extracurricular throughout high school.
That doesn’t mean she hasn’t found other ways to pursue her different passions and interests, though. She has volunteered at the Food Bank, river park clean-ups, the San Antonio Humane Society, and her soccer club. Her favorite volunteer experience, she noted, was teaching kindergarteners and first graders at Keystone how to play soccer during her freshman year.
Malia doesn’t know for sure what she wants to major in in college or intends to pursue as a career, so she’s looking forward to attending a liberal arts college where she can take advantage of the multitude of opportunities to explore a wide range of subjects and interests. She is leaning, though, towards pursuing studies related to physical therapy for athletes or the pharmaceutical industry.
When asked what the biggest life lesson she has learned is, Malia shared that “…everything happens for a reason. If one thing doesn’t work out, there will be another opportunity that is better for you than the one before. This was my thought process through college applications and the recruiting process, and it took some time to find the right college, but ultimately it was the best one for me.”
I know Malia has a bright future ahead of her, no matter where her path in life takes her. She is outgoing, hilarious, and such a lively person who I’m sure will bring much-needed joy wherever she goes. We wish her luck in her college and soccer career!
