In our second installment of All About ABC, Zephyrus sat down with senior Charles Leonard to talk about his experience with the Edina ABC program.

Zephyrus: Where are you from originally?

Charles: I lived in the Bronx in New York City!

Z: How did you learn about the ABC program? What planted the seed of possibly moving in your mind?

C.L.: My aunt went through ABC when she was in high school, and she suggested to my mom that I should do it. And my family couldn’t afford to keep sending me to my private Catholic school anymore, [so] she thought that it could be a better choice than going to public school in New York.

Z: How did the selection process work?

C.L.: My mom and I attended several meetings at the ABC building in New York, and then started looking at schools. I sort of wanted to stay close to home, like around the East Coast, but I started the process of looking for a school a little late, so a lot of schools had already selected their ABC students, so I ended up here.

Z: Were you initially willing to leave your home to come to Minnesota?

C.L.: Edina ABC got me a ticket to visit EHS. When I got here, Obi (McReynolds, senior) and Ryan (didn’t end up coming here) and I came and visited together. It was probably April or May, and it was nice, kind of sunny and hot. We got a tour of Edina and [Mall of America] and Southdale and stuff like that. Then on the last day we were evaluated through an interview. In the evaluation we were asked questions like if we would fit in at the school based on our character and what we would do in various situations. Because I had gotten such a late start on the ABC program, Minnesota was my last option, so it was here, or I was going to public school, and my whole family was telling me about the benefits of going to school here. So here I am!

Z: How does it feel that all of your old friends are in a place that was deemed a “challenging environment?”

C.L.: After being [in Edina] for a year, I realized who my friends really are. People I thought were my friends [in the Bronx] really aren’t. I was only friends with them because I wanted to fit in. If anything, I was the most responsible of that group of friends. They didn’t do anything that was actually bad, but they would do stuff like clown on the teacher, and I never really participated in that. I wish that everyone could take the opportunity that I’ve had. I feel sorry for [my friends in the Bronx], and wish that they could have this experience.

Z: What is one of the best parts of ABC, besides the new educational opportunity?

C.L.: I like that I can go outside and enjoy the outside, since it’s so much safer here, I can walk in the park without anyone hanging out looking for someone to target. Being here makes me feel a lot happier. I can jog, [play] football, and be outside instead of doing video games.

Z: If you could change one thing about ABC, what would it be?

C.L.: We’re not allowed to drive, and I understand why, but I wish that I could drive. Like they could have us take a test, to make sure that we’re competent drivers, and have the parents sign something saying that ABC isn’t responsible for our driving safety. And my family would pay for insurance. I know it’d be hard to deal with getting cars for us, but a lot of [ABC] students want to work, but we don’t always have consistent rides to get there. And it’d be nice to drive to sporting events. The host parents are super helpful, but they’re not always available. [Getting places] usually works out okay, but it’d be a lot easier in the end if we had the power to drive ourselves where we need to go.

Z:  And finally, if you could give Edina students a piece of advice, what would it be?

C.L.: You only have three years here, so build your relationships and connections with friends because they only last so long.

In our third installment of All About ABC, Zephyrus sat down with junior Elizabeth Bueno to talk about her experience with the Edina ABC program.

Zephyrus: Where are you from?

Elizabeth: The south side of Chicago about thirty minutes away from the city.

Z: Who did you live with in Chicago?

E.B.: All my family and extended family. We’re a family of five with my mom, dad, brother, sister, and I’m the youngest. My aunt, her husband, and their three boys lived with us too.

Z: Where do you live now?

E.B.: With my host parents Laura and Mark Knowlls, and the other kids from ABC across the street from Southdale in a pretty big house. The guys sleep in the basement, and the girls and my host parents sleep on the third floor.

Z: When did you move to Minnesota?

E.B.: I moved in early August of last year for this school year. I came early for Cross-Country. The whole process for coming early was different because I had to find a different set of host parents to stay with, I moved into the house [with the other ABC students] once the school year started.

Z: How was your adjustment when you came to Edina?

E.B.: It was okay I think, but I’m still not sure. I was very mature for my past high school. Still getting used to people and school more than anything else. I went to Stanford over the summer which helped prepare me for living without my parents and meeting people.

Z: Why did you go to Stanford?

E.B.: It was a three week long summer college program for business.

Z: How often do you contact your family?

E.B.: I’m really bad at contacting my family. I call my mom once a week and text her every other day in Spanish. My dad contacts me at random times, but he’s usually working.

Z: What has been most difficult for you?

E.B.: I think being open-minded because where I came from was a really really rough neighborhood and you didn’t associate yourself with anyone outside your group. I stayed with my group to stay away from bad influences. Where I’m from, people were either Mexican or African Americans, so there’s a lot more diversity here. People have different cultures and speak different languages. 

Z: What was the ABC application process?

E.B.: You apply your eighth grade year to the National Program and you also have school applications. The National Program finds schools to best fit your needs and you get to choose where you want to go – if you want East or West coast. Once you find a school you like, you apply.

Z: Why did you choose Edina?

E.B.: I visited Minnesota and I have family in Minneapolis. My parents recognized the area and were comfortable with me coming here. It’s close to home too. It’s easy to fly back because the airfare is cheap.

Z: What is your relationship like with the other ABC students?

E.B.: I’m very close with the other members. Keeze is my roommate so we see each other 24/7. It’s a lot like college dorm life. We might not be best friends, attached at the hip, but we talk and hang out together. I’m really good friends with Reggie- we’re hilarious together. We normally do our homework past midnight so we support each other during our late night homework.

Z: Have you ever visited home?

E.B.: Yeah, I visited home during our school breaks on Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, and I’m going again during spring break. I’m very thankful for cheap airfare. For others it’s really hard to go home because of how expensive airfare is, like to Dallas and California.

Z: How has it been making friends?

E.B.: Cross-Country helped a lot. My closest friends that I hang out with on the weekends are from cross country.

Z: Is your host family easy going about you doing activities outside of school and with friends?

E.B.: My host family is really comfortable if you communicate where you’ll be and tell them who you’re with. We have to be home by the Minnesota curfew and we have to talk to them if it’ll be later and give reasons why.

Z: How have things been going academically?

E.B.: It’s been challenging coming from my old school and it’s a 180-degree difference. At my old school I could pass with straight A’s without doing anything. I enjoy being challenged and I want to be on the same level as other people. I put in a lot more time and effort now. First semester was hard to adjust to because school was difficult.

Z: What extracurricular activities are you involved in?

E.B.: I did Nordic and Cross-Country and I’m starting track in the spring. I did all those back home except for Nordic because that wasn’t offered in Chicago.

Z: What do you like to do in your free time?

E.B.: It’s really nerdy. I read the Harry Potter series over and over again and watch the movies.

Z: What are your weekends like?

E.B.: We have mandatory weekend host parents that we see from 12:00-7:00 p.m. on Sundays. Our week host parents get a break from us and we get a break from our week host family. It was weird at first but we’ve had more experiences. And since it’s the weekend they take us places.

Z: What’s your favorite food that you’ve had while being here?

E.B.: There’s a really nice sushi restaurant on 50^th we went to over the summer which was really good. Minnesota has a lot of new restaurants that aren’t in Chicago. I like them all! Oh my gosh Yogurt Lab is so good. I love that place.

Z: Do you have any advice for students that want to participate in ABC?

E.B.: Since ABC recruits people from underdeveloped neighborhoods and schools, stay determined and always want something better for yourself. Never settle for less.