From clay to court, Adrian Chau

Adrian Chau (Wyett Pinney/ The Puma Prensa)

Wyett Pinney, Photo Editor

Clay changes colors, depending on the oxidization of the kiln, creating new shades of vibrant greens, reds and blues. That same studying and testing is the approach of Adrian Chau, a Maria Carrillo High School senior. 

“I like to think of myself as someone very dedicated to my academics,” said Chau. That's the same approach he takes into his hobbies, Such as ceramics and tennis. He pursues both of them inside and outside of school; inside school he’s the captain of the MCHS tennis team as well as a third year ceramics student.  And outside of school he actively practices tennis to keep his skills sharp, and works in an environment where he can work on his ceramics skills.

Centering 

It’s not all sunshine and rainbows, though. When asked about his position on the team, he said that “something [he struggles] with… is feeling inadequate. Skill wise, [he thinks he’s] the worst tennis team captain [they’ve] had in the past ten years,” But at the same time, he's found his solution: “every day I wake up and I just work towards being a better version of myself,” It's his self conviction to everyday place himself on the wheel and shape himself into the person he wants to be. “Lots of times your pieces are going to turn out kind of nasty, and that's developed that grit and that determination to push through projects,” said Chau. It's that same ethic that has allowed him to work everyday towards self improvement. This positivity is what stands out the most; it’s what many students are missing, and it cuts through the pessimism that challenges students in the face of their classes.

And for Chau, ceramics has “been really fulfilling and it’s been a great place to recuperate from the stress of school.” That's the huge benefit of having an elective–it's a pause. It’s especially important for Chau because during school hours, he is also the Captain of the Clay Club and the Magic The Gathering Club. All of these activities end up being quite fun, but like most things done by students planning on going to college, they also look very good on applications.

Shaping 

Adrian on the wheel ( Wyett Pinney/ The Puma Prensa)

However, it's not just his career that he has outlined, as he has a model for the kind of person he wants to be as well. On top of wanting to be his best self, he wants to model his father. “When I grow up, I want to be most like my dad, because I think he's very disciplined. And although he can be a bit boring at times, he’s always there when you need someone,” said Chau.

After high school, Adrian is planning on shaping his future by studying nanoengineering, and is leaning towards going to the University of California San Diego, where he is hoping to study a subject either in the medical field or sustainable energy.

Like any good plan, Adrian already has a vision in mind for the end result, saying his “dream job is retirement”.