Makhaila Porter: 'I do love the Seaside community'

 

 

 

 

 

 

Makhaila Porter

 

One day in the near future, Seaside High School Senior Makhaila Porter hopes to attend the University of Southern California and pursue a double major in criminal justice and political science. Post high school she aspires to become a private investigator and run for the United States Congress.

When thinking about her educational career here, she says, “I do love the Seaside community. It’s diverse. Everyone feels like a family at Seaside. There are a lot of minority groups and that is something I like. Being a part of a first generation low income student it’s helpful having people around me who are the same.”

Makhaila spent her entire academic journey in Seaside attending Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School of the Arts and Seaside Middle School before becoming part of the student body at Seaside High.

She has had a good experience at Seaside. “Most of the staff are really friendly. They try to connect with you on an educational level and a personal level. They go out of their way to talk to you, ask you how you're doing, and get to know you,” she says.

Leadership is definitely her favorite class and she also enjoys health care and sports medicine, which is new to the school. Makhaila also participates in volleyball and has played soccer for Seaside. Currently she serves as the team manager for the soccer team, and also runs track and field.

Her love of leading has found her serving in leadership at the school all four years. “All of that has involved me in the community a lot,” she states. “I do feel like having student voice is important. Some of the things that I do advocate for many of my classmates do advocate for as well. As a leadership student I know how it feels for your voice not to be heard, and that is my goal as a leadership student to have everyone’s voice to be heard.” Makhaila recently expanded her leadership journey on to the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District Board of Education as a student board member. 

One of the most important pieces of advice she wants to give her peers is - get to know your teachers and make connections. “I feel like that is the most important part of high school,” she says.

When she is not busy with school, leadership or athletics, Makhaila can be found spending time with her baby brother.