Sam Green is the epitome of unique – most
of his peers associate him with his genuine sense of humor and
overall ingenuity. There aren’t too many teenagers who build
cannons in their backyards while maintaining a GPA over 4.0.
Sam excels in sports, academics and extra curricular activities,
with the support of his family and friends.
Samuel Lanphere Green was born
on September 26, 1989 in Lincoln, Nebraska. His parents,
Michelle and David, moved young Sam to El Segundo as an infant,
where he was soon joined by his brother Spencer and sister
Hayden. Grandpa Ralph completes one of the most dynamic
families in El Segundo. “I love my whole family…My cousin Matt
Pittluck goes to ESHS…he’s cool,” Sam says simply when
questioned about his family. His best friends, Jeff Volosin
(“He’s cool. He doesn’t know how to ride a bike.”), Dylan Sharp,
Matt Pittluck, Jason Sperling, Joey Gumina, and Dimitri
Voulelikas, also add dimension to his life. With the support of
his loving family and friends, Sam has completed a gamut of
activities, including swim team, Robotics Club and Public
Speaking Club. Sam was certified as a master scuba diver and
enjoys spending much time in the water. He also founded the
Backpacking and Woodland Survival Club, which allows outdoor
enthusiasts a place to congregate. Senior year has occupied his
time no less, with an internship at Northrop Grumman along with
his other activities. These activities aren’t the only aspect
of Sam Green; he has aced AP Calculus, Physics, Language and
Composition, and United States History.
Sam’s accomplishments, so far,
are due to the young man’s determination and ambitions, but
credit must also be given to his role models; “My family (except
Spencer) is my role model. Don’t quote me on that. I’d like to
be my own role model.” This independent spirit should be
admired by all those floundering in the difficulties of high
school life.
Life has been filled, like all
teenagers’ lives, with bad times and good experiences, but Sam’s
life has been filled mostly with the latter. These memories,
the good and the bad, have enriched his personality, his most
unforgettable ones involving lifelong friends, family trips, and
amusing remembrances. “I remember back in either fourth or fifth
grade when me and Tim Fucci were playing and then Jeff Volosin
came along, and I wanted to play but he told me to get the hell
away from him because I was a fat little kid. I remember playing
with toys, and also going potty in my toy box when I was two
years old. I remember going on family trips like to Washington
D.C., Mount Rushmore, Roswell NM, Texas, and I went on a trip on
my own to the coast guard academy in New London, Connecticut
last summer so that I could get yelled at and get really sweaty.
I also remember going to pre-school with Salvatore Gumina.”
Sam will, as most seniors do,
move on to college, creating more memories in his last summer in
El Segundo with those that he will leave behind when he attends
University of San Diego in the fall. As Sam says, “I chose [to
go to University of San Diego] because it’s sweet down there and
because I got a scholarship from the U.S. Navy. I will major in
Mechanical Engineering. I look forward to having fun and
learning a lot.” Unlike many of his peers, Sam’s post college
plans are concrete; “When I graduate from USD, I will be
commissioned as an ensign (officer) in the U.S. Navy. I want to
be a Navy SEAL and then I want to have a family of my own. A
large sum of money would also be awesome.”
His optimism will
ensure that when Sam looks back as a senile, 80 year old man, he
will see a successful and amiable life. “I hope that I do a lot
by the time I am 80, “ he says, “capture or kill terrorists,
have a big happy family, retire from the navy and then do fun
stuff and get cool stuff like a boat and I'd also like to learn
to fly.”
With these
ambitious goals, Sam will certainly meet challenges along the
way, but he will undoubtedly succeed and, hopefully, future
Eagles will follow in his footsteps. He certainly has left a
mark on ESHS and will be sorely missed by the underclassmen who
love his in-class antics. He is sure to be an asset to all his
peers, future friends and all who meet him.
