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Chloe

Overview​

Chloe is Gabe Thin's girlfriend and a student at Columbia University. She brings a unique educational perspective to the conversation, having attended Waxa, an arts-focused public high school in Los Angeles before attending Columbia. Her insights about the contrast between her specialized arts education and her current academic experience provide valuable context for Gary's discussions about innovative education models.

Background & Professional Details​

  • Student at Columbia University
  • Graduate of Waxa, an arts-focused public high school in Los Angeles
  • Originally from Los Angeles area (home approximately 15 miles from Altadena)
  • Has experience in an educational environment that balanced academics with arts education
  • Attended a small, specialized high school with around 130 students

Professional Focus​

  • Current focus appears to be her studies at Columbia
  • Previous focus included arts education at Waxa
  • Expressed that her high school was not academically fulfilling, which led her to seek out Columbia
  • Shows interest in the balance between arts and academics in education
  • Values educational communities built around shared passions

Connection to Gary​

  • Met through Gabe Thin, son of Lisa Cohen (Gary's mentor)
  • Shares relevant experience in alternative education models
  • Provides firsthand perspective on arts-integrated education systems
  • Potential resource for understanding how specialized education translates to traditional higher education
  • Indirect connection that could provide insights for Gary's educational projects

Personal Insights​

  • Values community and shared interests in educational settings
  • Appreciates diverse perspectives gained from attending a "commuter school" with students from across the city
  • Self-motivated learner who pursued academic interests outside of her high school's requirements
  • Recognizes both the strengths and limitations of her specialized arts education
  • Has maintained connections to the Los Angeles area
  • Thoughtful about educational experiences and their impacts

Potential Collaboration Areas​

  • Insights on arts integration in education models
  • Perspectives on transitioning from specialized to traditional education
  • Feedback on creating community in educational settings
  • Los Angeles connections related to the Pasadena/Altadena school project
  • Student perspectives on educational innovation

Key Quotes​

"It was just like half the day was academics, half the day was like..."

"It wasn't fulfilling academically, which is kind of why I went to Columbia, because I needed something different, for sure. But I think in terms of the people, it was great."

"There was a common thread of like... artistic passion that I think brought us together."

"And it was a very, pretty close-knit community. It was a small school, so like it was easy for it to be that way. There were like 130 students in it."

"But I think in the fact that I was missing so much academically, like it forced me to chase things on my own clock. And like push myself. Not because like there were any, I don't know, like school standards pushing me. It was just like I had to do it because I cared about it and I wanted to."

Interactions​

  • 2025-05-18: In-person conversation with Gary, Lisa, Win, and Gabe about educational models, arts education, and her experience at Waxa high school.

Next Steps​

  • Follow up regarding her experience transitioning from arts-focused high school to Columbia
  • Explore her perspective on the proposed school in Pasadena/Altadena, given her Los Angeles connections
  • Consider her insights for arts integration in Gary's educational models
  • Learn more about her academic interests and career aspirations
  • Potentially connect regarding Columbia University networks or the Los Angeles area