MCHS Valedictorians: Colin Krasnoff

Colin Krasnoff highlights his team's CIF Championship win and offers sage advice for incoming seniors.

Patch: What college are you going to and why did you choose it?

CK: I will be attending UC Santa Barbara in the fall to study mechanical engineering. I chose Santa Barbara for two main reasons: They have a top-notch mechanical engineering program (one of the best programs in the country), and Santa Barbara is beautiful—the people are friendly, the school has a laid-back vibe, and it's a great place to unwind after a long week's work. Santa Barbara essentially embodies the "work hard/play hard" experience—you put in work and receive a great education, and you also get to spend the best four years of your life at a beautiful campus.

Patch: What are you looking forward to in college?

CK: I'm looking forward to making new friends as well as strengthening the friendships I have with the fellow Costa graduates who will also be attending UCSB.

Patch: What activities or sports were you involved in at Mira Costa?

CK: I was on the football team. It was probably the most worthwhile experience of my life. It made me into a stronger person. It taught me that things aren't handed to us, and that we have to go out and earn what we want. It built character, stamina and integrity. Additionally, I made friendships in football that will last a lifetime. In the end, all of the effort paid out, and we won the CIF Championship.

Patch: Tell me about awards or honors you've received.

CK: I was a scholar athlete every semester of high school. I was one of the recipients of the Charleigne Deatherage award my junior year. I was named Student of the Month in March of 2008. I was named a lifetime member of the California Scholarship Federation, and I also received a scholarship from the CSF.

Patch: Looking back on your high school years, what was the best thing about Mira Costa? Do you have a favorite memory?

CK: When we won our football games, we would go over to a teammate's house afterwards and invite around a hundred Costa kids over. Those were great times. Probably my favorite memory was the night we won the CIF Championship: People were mobbing the field, there was electricity in the air. It was one of the happiest days of my life, and I'll never forget it.

Patch: What will you be glad to leave behind, either about Costa or about high school in general?

CK: I think anybody graduating from high school wants a change of scenery. As for Costa, I couldn't stand to live in the South Bay "bubble" forever. Maybe I'll come back after college, but I need to get away from Manhattan Beach for a while.

Patch: Any advice to offer students at Mira Costa, especially incoming seniors?

CK: As corny as it sounds, be yourself. Don't let other people project themselves onto you. Be the kid at the party that people are glad to see because he'll be the designated driver or that he'll actually have an intelligent conversation with you and won't be a jerk. Find a balance: you don't have to be the complete non-conformist (you'll end up isolated), and you don't have to be the easy push-over (people will walk all over you).

Patch: What will you miss most about your community?

CK: Family and friends, basic stuff. I won't really miss the beach much because Santa Barbara's campus is literally right on the beach.

Patch: Any last thoughts before you leave for college?

CK: I can't wait to go out into the world and make a name for myself. Hopefully, I can make as many people happy as possible along the way.