Representing Poly and Pasadena: Elizabeth R. ’27’s Rose Court Journey

PolyNews: When you were named to the Rose Court, what was going through your mind?

Elizabeth: I was shocked, to say the least! But I thought that either way, it was incredibly exciting. There had been weeks of interviews, so it was a long-awaited moment.

PolyNews: What was the process like leading up to the announcement?

Elizabeth: We went through four rounds of interviews. The first lasted 15 seconds, and the time limit increased a little with each round. The only time you know the question ahead of time is during the first interview, and even then, it can be a little unexpected.

The interviews were spread out, about one per week, so the process lasted around a month. You go into a room alone with about 15 judges sitting in front of you. It can be daunting because you don't know the question, you're on a time limit, and you can get cut off. It was suspenseful, but also very fun. Seeing familiar faces in the waiting room, including lots of Poly girls, helped soothe my nerves. The hardest part was waiting to hear whether you'd made it to the next round.

PolyNews: Was there anything or anyone who felt especially supportive throughout your journey to the Rose Court?

Elizabeth: My experience at Poly has been a huge source of support. Preparing for interviews and learning to speak about yourself in a way that feels true to you is a skill. At Poly, class discussions welcome and encourage your opinions and lived experiences. That made it easier and more fun to share about myself in a stressful, vulnerable setting.

The senior class is also very close, and doing this alongside girls who are so happy for one another has been a huge blessing.

PolyNews: You're balancing two fall sports, the Rose Court, leadership activities, academics, and so much more. How do you manage your time?

Elizabeth: I'm currently doing flag football and cross country. I had to miss a few flag football practices, but I've tried to make it to the games. We won league and made it to CIF. I think it's important to show that even with a new sport that takes a lot of time, you can still balance multiple things if you want it enough. I'm glad I've been able to set an example that you can do more than one thing.

Communication with my teachers, counselor, and advisor has also helped. The academic support at Poly has helped make it manageable and less daunting.

PolyNews: Are there any Poly faculty members or other adults on campus you'd like to recognize for supporting you?

Elizabeth: My advisor Mr. Prater, my counselor Ms. Zetlian, Ms. Cardillo, and all my teachers have been a huge support. My teachers have been so flexible, kind, and accommodating.

PolyNews: Why did you want to try out for the Rose Court and represent Pasadena and Poly?

Elizabeth: I grew up going to the Rose Parade, so it wasn't new to me. I've always looked up to the girls on the court. In my freshman year, I had a friend, Laura Georgino, who was on the Rose Court, and that made me think, "OK, I have to try out."

As I went through the interview rounds, I realized I wanted to come prepared, so I started doing research. I realized it was a huge opportunity to serve in a unique way. I've been involved in a service club at Poly, but this felt like a broad, engaging way to connect with the community and an opportunity to learn how to be a leader. I was excited to represent Poly and be part of such a fun tradition.

PolyNews: What are the next steps, and how will you stay involved?

Elizabeth: In the coming weeks, we'll put the service and leadership skills we've been developing into practice. There are more than 60 hours of hands-on community work in different forms. Two weekends ago, we went to Newport Beach for the weekend, and there are lots of exciting places we'll visit and groups we'll engage with. There's a lot to come before the parade. It doesn't all happen around New Year's. It starts now.

PolyNews: What have been some of your favorite parts of the experience?

Elizabeth: The girls are absolutely lovely. One thing I love about Poly is how intellectual the students are and how insightful and fun the conversations can be. The Rose Court feels very similar. The girls are brilliant in character and intellect, and we spend a lot of time together, so it's wonderful that we all get along.

The day-to-day has been really fun. We recently wrote and delivered our speeches for the first time, and it's been exciting to see the girls in a more formal setting and learn more about them.

PolyNews: Is there anything that stands out about the experience that you wanted to share?

Elizabeth: There's a very large committee of impressive people who serve as mentors throughout the process. It's a blessing to have people who care about you working with you every day. They're not only brilliant at what they do, but they also care that you leave having learned from them. I expected service and leadership to be part of the experience, but I don't think I fully understood their value and impact until I experienced them. That's been the best surprise so far.

It's also been really sweet to hear from girls who were on past courts. Some have reached out to me on social media. Even though this is a three-month process, it feels like a community that will continue. Many people on the committee were on the Rose Court or worked with it, so it's an experience that will stay with me.

PolyNews: Thank you so much, Elizabeth. We're proud of you!