Seniors of CPS: Conrad L.

Interview conducted by Wells R.

Wells: Hey Conrad! We’re gonna start the interview off with some rapid fire questions to get started. Gym Deck or Student Commons?

Conrad: I like the gym deck better.

Wells: Favorite Trader Joe’s snack?

Conrad: They used to have shortbread lemon cookies there that were really good.

Wells: Freshman Physics or Asian Worlds?

Conrad: Asian Worlds.

Wells: What’s your favorite CPS department?

Conrad: I like history a lot.

Wells: Now onto some more open-ended questions: what has been your favorite CPS class and why?

Conrad: I really liked junior year U.S. history. I especially enjoyed the projects we did, like the museum project. I didn’t particularly like the term paper, but I think it teaches really important skills and is a project unique to CPS that helps students prepare for higher education.

Wells: What’s something not a lot of people at CPS know about you?

Conrad: I have never broken a bone. 

Wells: Impressive! What’s the closest you’ve ever been?

Conrad: I guess I was really close to breaking my neck in preschool when I fell off a tricycle and had to get stitches on my chin.

Wells: That’s pretty scary. Where do you see yourself in five years?

Conrad: Hopefully employed and graduated from college, but that’s really it. I don’t have too many concrete ideas of where I’ll be other than that.

Wells: What’s one of your favorite CPS memories?

Conrad: I had a lot of fun going rafting on sophomore retreat. Rafting was super fun, but I feel that all the activities you do as a class are really important in bonding as a grade.

Wells: If you could give advice to your freshman year self, what would it be?

Conrad: Definitely to prioritize developing good study habits. Since CPS is so academically rigorous, it is really important to not blow things off. 

Wells: What kinds of study habits do you think are most useful?

Conrad: Probably just time management and being able to motivate yourself to study.

Wells: If you could say thank you to one room at CPS, what would it be?

Conrad: I would say the Chinese classroom. I have a fond connection to the classroom because I met a lot of my really close friends there, and just generally, I have a lot of positive memories of having fun with my friends in it.

Wells: And one last question, I’m not sure too many people at CPS know this about you, but you are a very accomplished and talented fencer, so can you tell us a little bit about how you got into fencing and what you’ve taken away from it?

Conrad: I started fencing when I was seven years old, probably just because I enjoyed combat sports and playing with swords, which is probably why I’ve stuck with it all these years. I truly am grateful for all the teachers, administrators, and coaches that have helped me to balance the packed fencing schedule with the academic schedule at CPS. 

Wells: What’s been your favorite thing about fencing?

Conrad: I really enjoy traveling for fencing tournaments. I’ve been lucky enough to compete in places like Lima and Slovakia that I wouldn’t normally have been able to visit, so I’m really grateful for the opportunity fencing has given me to experience various cultures from so many different parts of the world. It has been truly amazing.

Wells: Thank you so much, Conrad!