FUTURE LEADER: Driven Como set to change the world
Feb. 22, 2014
By ALONSO TACANGA/Valley Press Assistant Sports Editor
PALMDALE — When first tried to be reached by phone, Quartz Hill High senior Launier Como was somewhere across the south border, on a charity mission in Mexico.
This time Como's parents were aware of the trip. This time the driven Launier didn't forget to tell them where she was planning to go.
“It’s been really hard to raise a child as strong-willed as her,” Keisha Como, Launier’s mother, said laughing. “Because she tells you what to do, but nevertheless we’re very proud of her.”
The first sign that the determined Launier was going to be a challenge to look after was when — at 12 years old — she applied to go to a handful of private schools that she felt would give her a better shot at being accepted into high-tier universities.
She was only a seventh grader. She had done all of the research and paperwork herself and gotten into Oaks Christian School, a private institution in Westlake Village. All she needed was a few more documents.
And her unknowing parents’ approval.
“I knew my parents would be hesitant about it, so I just decided to do it myself,” Launier said. “So at the end of the process when you need your social security number and things like that, I obviously didn’t have that, so then I brought it up to them.
“I told them, ‘hey, I already did all my essays, I got all my teachers’ recommendations, I already did all this stuff, you kind of can’t say no. I need you to go through this process with me. It’s going to be hard, but we’re going to do it.’”
Initially offered a 90-percent scholarship for a steep tuition, Launier got the green light from her parents despite the fact it meant she’d have to move with a host family 75 miles away. When that scholarship was cut down to only 40 percent, it was just economically out of their possibilities.
“That was my first and only heartbreak for her,” Keisha said, “to tell her ‘you can’t go.’”
But with a child as resolved and whose ultimate goal is to be an ambassador in a foreign country, that was a mere bump on the road. She went to Quartz Hill and has done enough community service and extra curricular activities to be accepted into universities such as St. John’s, Howard, Seton Hall, Montana State, Northern Arizona and Stony Brook, Many of these schools have offered have offered her scholarships.
She’s just waiting on Georgetown.
“I’m going east all the way,” Launier said.
Launier’s grade-point average is just below a 4.0. But even perfect grades aren’t as strong as her will. She seems to have what it takes to change the world.
She got a lot of that will from seeing her mother struggle trying to go back to school. Keisha went to San Diego State, but couldn’t finish her bachelor’s.
If all goes according to planned, Launier will have her bacherlor’s and much more. You need those degrees when you’re trying to specialize in international law and want to be a U.S. representative in a foreign country.
“I figure I need 12 more years of school before I get fully hooked into my career,” Keisha said.
This time, her parents are fully aware of this, and they support her every step of the way.
“I call her my ‘love child,’” said Andrew Como, Launier’s father. “I’m hopeful one day she’ll be on the big stage helping other people, because she really has the heart to help.”
By ALONSO TACANGA/Valley Press Assistant Sports Editor
PALMDALE — When first tried to be reached by phone, Quartz Hill High senior Launier Como was somewhere across the south border, on a charity mission in Mexico.
This time Como's parents were aware of the trip. This time the driven Launier didn't forget to tell them where she was planning to go.
“It’s been really hard to raise a child as strong-willed as her,” Keisha Como, Launier’s mother, said laughing. “Because she tells you what to do, but nevertheless we’re very proud of her.”
The first sign that the determined Launier was going to be a challenge to look after was when — at 12 years old — she applied to go to a handful of private schools that she felt would give her a better shot at being accepted into high-tier universities.
She was only a seventh grader. She had done all of the research and paperwork herself and gotten into Oaks Christian School, a private institution in Westlake Village. All she needed was a few more documents.
And her unknowing parents’ approval.
“I knew my parents would be hesitant about it, so I just decided to do it myself,” Launier said. “So at the end of the process when you need your social security number and things like that, I obviously didn’t have that, so then I brought it up to them.
“I told them, ‘hey, I already did all my essays, I got all my teachers’ recommendations, I already did all this stuff, you kind of can’t say no. I need you to go through this process with me. It’s going to be hard, but we’re going to do it.’”
Initially offered a 90-percent scholarship for a steep tuition, Launier got the green light from her parents despite the fact it meant she’d have to move with a host family 75 miles away. When that scholarship was cut down to only 40 percent, it was just economically out of their possibilities.
“That was my first and only heartbreak for her,” Keisha said, “to tell her ‘you can’t go.’”
But with a child as resolved and whose ultimate goal is to be an ambassador in a foreign country, that was a mere bump on the road. She went to Quartz Hill and has done enough community service and extra curricular activities to be accepted into universities such as St. John’s, Howard, Seton Hall, Montana State, Northern Arizona and Stony Brook, Many of these schools have offered have offered her scholarships.
She’s just waiting on Georgetown.
“I’m going east all the way,” Launier said.
Launier’s grade-point average is just below a 4.0. But even perfect grades aren’t as strong as her will. She seems to have what it takes to change the world.
She got a lot of that will from seeing her mother struggle trying to go back to school. Keisha went to San Diego State, but couldn’t finish her bachelor’s.
If all goes according to planned, Launier will have her bacherlor’s and much more. You need those degrees when you’re trying to specialize in international law and want to be a U.S. representative in a foreign country.
“I figure I need 12 more years of school before I get fully hooked into my career,” Keisha said.
This time, her parents are fully aware of this, and they support her every step of the way.
“I call her my ‘love child,’” said Andrew Como, Launier’s father. “I’m hopeful one day she’ll be on the big stage helping other people, because she really has the heart to help.”