Senior Stories: Cristian Gordillo Olea

Cristian Gordillo Olea is gearing up for an exciting future. After graduation, he plans to attend the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities at the Carlson School of Management, aiming for a degree in business. 

To achieve his goals, Cristian is prepared to work hard and take care of himself, confident that he can adapt and succeed in college while staying true to his values. In his free time, Cristian enjoys hanging out with friends and family, exploring the outdoors and learning new languages.

During high school, Cristian has been active in several extracurricular activities, including the National Honor Society, Spartan Crew, Me to We, and the Green Team. He has also participated in the Richfield Singers and the Dual Language Immersion program. His favorite aspect of high school has been spending time with friends and teachers, and especially the trip to France with his French class.

Cristian’s favorite class this year was Physiology with Mr. Brown. He enjoyed the hands-on activities, such as dissecting a cat and a sheep brain, testing blood and monitoring heart rates. The small class size allowed for a tight-knit community. Cristian says, “Despite it being hard, I chose this class to challenge myself and learn new things that I hadn’t yet had the chance to explore.”

The teacher who has had the greatest impact on Cristian is Madame Steele, his French teacher since freshman year. “Madame is caring and gets to know everyone to the point where she knows exactly how you think by looking at you,” he said. “She has helped me and many others during stressful high school situations and, through advice, helps with the problem.”

“Cristian brings a positive and healthy attitude to the classroom,” said DLI language arts teacher Rebecca Arredondo. “He is very inclusive and ensures that everyone around him feels safe and comfortable. He is hardworking, determined and will accomplish many great things after high school!”

If Cristian could travel anywhere, he would choose Italy for its food, architecture, language and culture. He enjoys listening to Italian music and speaking the language, appreciating its similarities to Spanish. Described by friends as generous, funny and outgoing, Cristian loves meeting new people and seeking out new experiences.

Congratulations, Cristian, and we wish you success in the future at the U of M!