Why Animas? As an individual I tend to get so caught up in my grades and school work that I forget to explore my interests and take care of myself. Initially, my plan was to go to Durango High School; a regular, large public high school with very traditional teaching and not much individual attention to students. Before high school, I attended a small charter school called Mountain Middle School for five years. Although this school did a lot of project based and hands-on learning, I didn’t feel like I was able to advocate for myself and receive the support that I needed academically. I spent so much time focusing on my grades in middle school that I sometimes forgot to enjoy my free time and remember to take time for myself. Now that I’m in high school I worry that I won’t ever have time to explore my true interests. This is part of what brings me to Animas. The culture at Animas creates a sense of community that is hard to find at other schools. My sister, who is now a freshman in college, attended Animas for three and a half years. Because I had a sibling at Animas, my family has been connected to the Animas community for many years. This has allowed me to get a preview of the culture and community of Animas. I chose to come to Animas to receive the support I need in order to explore my interests while also gaining academic preparation for the future. I believe that the purpose of education is to build a base upon which students can explore and build their interests. Although most high schools are able to build this platform, Animas provides students with the opportunity to make connections with their teachers and peers so that students are surrounded by people who understand how they learn best. This is what drew me to Animas. Overall, during my time at Animas High School, not only do I want to learn more academically, but I also want to learn more about myself.