“I don’t really think about anything else besides playing the guitar in that moment… Like, there’s nothing really on my mind. It’s just kind of like when you reach flow state, that’s the best part,” Berkeley High School Academic Choice (AC) senior Anthony Feely said. Feely finds that playing the guitar provides an escape for him and relieves stress, especially as he’s involved in multiple BHS communities. These include serving as the co-president of the Puente — a program with the mission of helping first generation and underrepresented students attend college — Club, being a member of the Hispanic Engineers and Scientists Club, and participating in the BHS Biotechnology program, among other roles within the school.
Throughout high school, Feely has made an effort to pursue his passions. He encourages underclassmen to prioritize enrolling in classes and putting energy into activities that they find genuine interest in. “At the end of the day, if you spend your time with extracurriculars that you actually focus on and what you’re interested in, rather than taking other AP classes just because you think they’ll look good … it’ll just be more beneficial,” he said.
As for his legacy, Feely hopes he brought a little bit more optimism and energy to BHS. “I’m just trying to be remembered for trying to bring the good vibes to school, even times when everyone was down. Just try to have fun, because at the end of the day, that’s all that matters,” he said.
Feely will be attending the University of California, Davis in the fall where he plans to major in biotechnology, and is considering pursuing a minor in neurobiology. “I’m just kind of excited to see where that ends up… I would probably try to work at a startup or in some lab around the Bay (Area),” Feely said.
Feely remains passionate about the things that matter most to him, including his family, friends, soccer, and self-improvement. He hopes to maintain the connections he’s made and the open-minded approach to life he’s developed at BHS into college and beyond.