HIGH SCHOOL @MOORPARK COLLEGE SENIOR STANDOUT

Graduate transforms leadership opportunities to empower others



Elijah Frankle

Elijah Frankle

Editor’s note: Senior standouts are selected by their respective schools. Photos are provided by the student.

From math tutor to student body president, Elijah Frankle has had many opportunities to serve and lead his fellow students at the High School at Moorpark College.

The 17-year old graduate said he strives to instill in others the same sense of self-confidence he gained from these opportunities, ultimately empowering them to succeed in ways they never imagined.

“We are able to do so much more than we assume we are,” Elijah said. “It’s better to take the opportunity and do your best than shy away from it because you think you won’t be perfect.”

Having taken four semesters of college math, Elijah finds fulfillment as a tutor at the Los Angeles Valley College Math Lab. He said initially he did not think he was qualified to assist college students, but he quickly realized he enjoyed helping others believe in themselves.

“My personal philosophy when it comes to anything at all is just because you are struggling to learn it does not mean you are any worse at it,” he said. “What I really love about tutoring is reaching out to those people who are intimidated by math.”

He said he takes great pride in his high school, and his most significant achievements have come from sharing that pride with others.

As Associated Student Government president this past year, Elijah acted as a liaison between administration and students, planned virtual events to build community, and created a committee to provide resources for current and prospective students. He is grateful for the freedom to make positive changes and make others feel both welcome and heard.

“I love finding opportunities to go beyond what’s expected,” said Elijah, who hopes the administration remembers his vision and students remember their own potential. “With such a small community, it is very clear how much of a difference just one single person can make.”

His passion for empowering others also extends to social justice, especially LGBTQ activism. Elijah said he recently took a social problems class at Moorpark College with the goal of becoming more aware of the impact of his actions. After the pandemic, he plans to move beyond signing petitions and begin participating in protests.

“The biggest part of it is personal responsibility and education, so I am always looking for a chance to learn more about the world and the problems happening,” he said.

Elijah—who said he’s made his most important memories at Disneyland—will attend UC Santa Barbara. There, he will study the intersection of computer science and engineering with the arts in hopes of designing theme park rides.

“Art has an incredibly meaningful impact on the world,” Elijah said. “Creating these imaginative, immersive experiences will change the world in a way. It will make people happy, it will provide an escape, it will advance technology.”

After taking an introductory computer science course with a particularly inspiring professor last summer, Elijah said he went from knowing nothing about the subject to wanting to turn it into his career. He hopes to inspire others in a similar way during his time at college by starting a club for those interested in theme park engineering and by continuing to tutor those struggling in math.

“If he didn’t encourage our imagination and our ambition and our intellect and our creativity in projects, then I wouldn’t have gotten so genuinely excited about it,” Elijah said. “Maybe I won’t have that kind of effect, but the effect of one person’s encouragement can drastically change someone’s path.”