Simplicity is best, less is more
Senior Michael Lugo tells The Classic his THHS story
Image made using Canva. Image by Ryan Chen.
Image made using Canva. Image by Ryan Chen.
This year, The Classic has created a questionnaire meant to give readers a window into the thoughts and experiences of various members of the Townsend Harris community.
For the sixth edition in this Classic conversation series, senior Michael Lugo responded to The Classic's multi-question challenge, sharing his thoughts on the biggest lesson he was taught outside of class and his favorite school experience.
Note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
The Conversation
The Classic
What do you look forward to most during the school day?
Michael Lugo
I look forward to seeing my friends and hanging out with them because I feel like without my friends, the school day would be a lot more boring and more dragged out.
The Classic
If you could change one thing at Townsend Harris with the wave of a wand, what would you change?
Michael Lugo
I would change nothing. I feel like if I change anything about the community, I think it would change the whole experience of Townsend as a whole.
The Classic
What is your favorite place to study or work and why?
Michael Lugo
It depends on every year. Some years I like studying in the Zen Den, some years I like studying in the library, but mainly this year I've been studying in the Senior Lounge in 334.
The Classic
What's a hidden gem, activity, or experience at school that more people should appreciate?
Michael Lugo
It's a tricky one because there's a lot of good activities in this school. One activity I didn't do but I feel like people should appreciate it more is S!NG. I feel like S!NG is a great way to get to know the community of Townsend and I definitely saw a lot of my friends getting to know a lot more people in the school and making connections via S!NG.
The Classic
What kind of teaching method do you think is most effective and why? Visual, audio, group work, independent work, slides, or creative projects? Alternatively, what helps you learn best?
Michael Lugo
My preferred learning method is more of a visual learning method. I've always been comfortable with pictures alongside words, but as to which one's the best one, I honestly feel like it depends on the person. There's no one ideal learning method for a class. You know, the entirety of the class is not going to be visual, the entirety of the class is not going to be auditory, the entirety of the class is not going to be physical, and I feel like that's part of the process of teaching class after class. Not everyone is the same.
"The school lunch. I know school lunch comes in varying qualities throughout the year but I'm the type of person to appreciate school lunch even if it is kind of questionable at times."
The Classic
So, to clarify, do you think visual and along with words is the most effective teaching method or do you think it's more subject to the person?
Michael Lugo
It's more subject to the person.
The Classic
What colors and why would you assign your folder for the core subjects English, math, science, social studies, and word languages?
Michael Lugo
I am a firm believer that English was always red and that math was always blue and that anyone that would try to go against it is a cuckoo head, but science is always green and history is always yellow and I can see an argument for a world language as being yellow as well.
The Classic
In a school you're supposed to learn multiple lessons a day. What's the biggest lesson you learned outside of a class from a friend, teacher, faculty member, or other person in the Townsend Harris community?
Michael Lugo
I think time management because I feel like when you get taught multiple lessons a day across multiple core subjects like math, history, world languages, etc. that's a lot of information to take in your head and there’s probably a lot of assignments you have to do. So definitely managing your time is something I've learned not only from my friends but also from many teachers who helped me manage my time across the years.
“If you just say 'hi,' I'll say 'hi' back. You can feel free to introduce yourself because I know at first I seem very anti-social."
Senior Michael Lugo
Senior Michael Lugo in the THHS Zen Den. Photo by Ryan Chen.
Senior Michael Lugo in the THHS Zen Den. Photo by Ryan Chen.
The Classic
If we ask people who know you and know about what you contribute to the school how would you want them to describe your contributions to the school? If we ask them how you leave our community better than you found it, no matter how small, how would you want them to answer?
Michael Lugo
I would probably want them to answer in a very honest manner and answer in very few words. I don't need people to describe me with a huge explanation. As long as you give the major points, I'm good.
The Classic
Is there any specific stuff that you want them to know or say?
Michael Lugo
No, because it honestly depends on the person what they want to say about me because I have experiences with people in different fashions.
The Classic
What is the best single thing that you can eat in NYC?
Michael Lugo
I would say tacos. Tacos are one of the best foods.
The Classic
Are you a STEM or humanities person?
Michael Lugo
I used to be a humanities person but now I'm kind of a balance between humanities and STEM.
The Classic
What is the best drink that's not water, coffee, or tea?
Michael Lugo
I'll go with Snapple.
The Classic
What is your go-to song for the subway?
Michael Lugo
I'm not really much of a music person, I just really like listening to mostly lo-fi music wherever I go.
The Classic
What's something you would want people to know about you that they might not know or find out too easily?
Michael Lugo
That I'm very welcoming. If you just say “hi” I'll say “hi” back. You can feel free to introduce yourself because I know at first, I seem very anti-social.
The Classic
Favorite FON that you have nothing to do with, or you have not participated in?
Michael Lugo
My favorite FON is K-FON.
The Classic
Is there any assignment more torturous than the mile run at Townsend Harris?
Michael Lugo
It was probably that Jared Diamond assignment I had to do in Pre-AP world.
The Classic
Have you watched the hit Netflix movie K-Pop Demon Hunters and if so, who is your favorite Huntr/x member?
Michael Lugo
I have not watched K-Pop Demon Hunters. I know some of the songs but I’m not familiar with the lore.
The Classic
What YouTube video book, movie, tv episode, song or other piece of entertainment makes you tear up and why?
Michael Lugo
I'm going to go for a book on this one. It's the Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri. It really makes me emotional because at the end of each of the books, not only do you see symbolism, but you also get very emotional when they finally reach the next area on their amazing journey.
The Classic
Writing utensil of choice: mechanical pencil, pen, or a special kind of pen?
Michael Lugo
Oh, I'm a pen person. I used to be a pencil person but now I'm mostly a pen person.
The Classic
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