MAGNET GRADUATE SPOTLIGHT:
Skylar Dunn
Advanced Technologies Academy '10

What is your name?

     Skylar Dunn

What CCSD Magnet School(s) did you attend and what year did you graduate?

     Advanced Technologies Academy, c/o 2010

 

What college/university did/do you attend?

University of Southern California, c/o 2015

What is your current occupation?

Legal Project Assistant at the law offices of Mitchell, Silberberg & Knupp.

What was your favorite thing about attending a Magnet School?

Reflecting on my time at A-Tech, it is impossible to pick only one. I enjoyed being able to specialize in Business early on and attending a school filled with individuals who cared about their education and future as much as I did.

What’s your proudest achievement since graduating from High School?

Becoming the first in my family to receive a college degree

How did attending a Magnet School help prepare you for college and/or your current profession?

Attending A-Tech definitely gave me a competitive edge when I got to college. It was the first place that showed me what long nights and early mornings really meant, a lifestyle I became accustomed to both in college and now in the working world. Further, it helped me to understand that nothing is given to you. Everything must be earned and I think my time at A-Tech, though I hated it at the time, taught me a bunch of valuable lessons that prepared me for life after high school, and looking back on it I appreciate it now more as an adult.

If you could have one superpower, what would it be and how could you use it?

I’ve always wanted to make a difference by leaving a lasting impact in the world, so if I could have one super power I would have healing power and I would use it to cure the sick and hurt people around the world.

What teacher inspired you most? How?

I have two. The first is Dr. Dajuane Anderson, my middle school math teacher. Dr. Anderson was the first black male educator that I encountered. He was tough on me and every other black male he taught because he believed in us. He showed me that I was more than my athletic ability. He taught me that it was ok to be black and academically gifted and that I didn’t have to go to the NBA or NFL to be successful, and for that I am forever grateful. Essentially, he inspired me to pursue my purpose my way and let no one define me.The second is Ms. Liberty Leavitt. I first encountered Ms. Leavitt when I was in the 6th grade. She was a young, vibrant teacher with a very promising career. I believe she was my social studies teacher at the time. I gave her a tough time, but she could tell I was smart and she never gave up on me. Our relationship grew over the course of my middle school career and she became more of a mom to me than my teacher. When I was accepted to A-Tech for high school, Ms. Leavitt had moved back to Colorado to teach high school. We had had a conversation during my freshman year  as we often did and I told her I wanted her to be my teacher again, and the rest is history, literally. The following year, my sophomore year at A-Tech, Ms. Leavitt was my World History Honors teacher. My junior and senior years at A-Tech I was her student aid and also a student ambassador for Ms. Leavitt, when she became the recruiting coordinator for our school. Needless to say she just has not been able to get rid of me. While I was a student at USC, Ms. Leavitt would travel to Southern California with her family to check on me and watch football games. Ms. Leavitt has been one of the constant factors in not only my educational endeavors, but also my growth and development as a young man. As an educator Ms. Leavitt has inspired me to never give up and to love people unconditionally despite any differences between us. The way she accepted my peers and me when I was just an 11 year old kid says a lot about her and how much she cares for her students. I knew then she was a special human being and I am just blessed that she is forever apart of my life. Ms. Leavitt has inspired me in more ways than one, and I can go on and on, but I will say she has inspired me to be great and to accept others no matter what. She is like my mom and I am her son, and no one can change that.

What advice do you have for students today?

First and foremost is to be careful when leaving a foot print on social media—it is not hard for people to find you online, and you never want to rob yourself of an opportunity because of a social media mishap. My next piece of advice for students is to remember that you are competing against global society not just students in your school or in the Clark County School District. I would also like them to understand that life is so much bigger than Las Vegas, so if you have the opportunity to go away for school and experience life elsewhere do that, study abroad, travel, and never limit yourself. Lastly, it is ok to push yourself beyond your normal parameters (or comfort zone), when you do this you know you are growing, when you are growing you are learning, and you should never stop learning. Be committed to being a lifelong learner.