Faces of West County: Alina Peterson

This fourth-generation Analy student starred in this year's high school musical and served as a student rep to the school board

Alina Peterson (Photo by Steve Einstein)

[Editor’s note: The previous send identified the writer of this story as Laura. It’s actually Steve Einstein. Apologies!]

Sebastopol often feels like a bit of a retirement community. It’s not quite Oakmont, but it’s sure grey and aging. With the cost of housing around here, it’s no surprise that we’re not crawling with young families. But there are kids here, and the high school looks and feels like any other, though it did need to consolidate with El Molino a number of years back due to falling enrollment.

We like to go to the yearly musical the Analy theater department puts on, and this year’s Mama Mia, did not disappoint. Loved it! One of the leads, Alina Peterson, had great stage presence and a strong confident voice that belted out tunes like a pro. She is also the daughter of a friend of ours, which made approaching her for an interview a bit easier. I was really pleased when she agreed to talk.

Alina, where and when were you born?

2007. I’m 17. Born in Santa Rosa but moved here to Sebastopol when I was just a year and a half. So this has been my only real home.

Who’s in your family?

My mom, Daniela, and my dad, Bryan, and our two cats, Huckle and Razz—like the berries.

What schools did you attend?

I started off at Treehouse Hollow, then Reach Charter, then Hillcrest, and now Analy. Here’s something interesting. I’m fourth generation Analy.

Wow. Not many can claim that.

My great-grandfather was actually a classmate of Willard Libby. (Editor’s note: Libby discovered radiocarbon dating and got a Nobel prize in chemistry for it back in 1960. Libby, after whom Libby Park is named, is probably Analy’s most famous alum, after Karen Valentine, who starred in Room 222 and who got a Primetime Emmy for that in 1970.) He was on the football team with Willard back in the 1920s. Both my parents went there too. They were biology lab partners, and my mom had a huge crush on my dad.

Did you have a favorite teacher along the way?

I loved Miss Christy at Reach. She was just so kind and caring. A great problem solver. Just a great teacher. We all loved her.

So now that you’re about to finish high school, …

Wait a minute. I’m only a junior at Analy.

Really?!? I assumed from the way you commanded the stage during the Mama Mia run that you had to be a senior. That proves yet again the wisdom of the adage, and bumper sticker, ‘Don’t Believe Everything You Think.’

Well, are you considering any particular college, even as a junior?

Yes, but I don’t want to jinx it by telling you. If you speak your manifestation, they are less likely to come true.

Okay. I wouldn’t want that to happen because of me.

Is there something you’re proud about Analy?

Well, I’m proud that I simply passed all my classes the first semester this year. I’ve been so busy with so many things, just passing was good.

No, I meant is there a particular attribute about Analy that you’re proud of.

I like that it’s a low-key school. No fighting or tension. It’s chill. This is an accepting town too. But it’s clearly a bubble.

Do you have a sense of what you want to pursue?

It’s a toss-up between marine biology and the arts.

Alina, it’s really hot today. Does climate change worry you?

I’m super stressed by that. I think my generation has been the first to grow up fully aware of the dangers of climate change. There’s a challenge trying to figure out what problem to focus on. I’m not sure what problem related to the climate, or what action I can take, to best save the future from disaster.

I can go down the environmental scientist path and dedicate myself to that, but I’m thinking of politics too. There are plenty of options for having an impact.

The climate crisis is definitely in my soul. Much of my generation feels it. It’s all we’ve ever known. You and my parents’ generation only got wise to the environmental problem ten or so years ago.

Probably more than ten years ago, but I get your point. The climate crisis has been the primary focus for your generation. When I was in high school we were more focused on ending the Viet Nam war, or fighting for farmworker rights, or in my neighborhood, working to free Soviet Jews from Russia.

Lets talk about Mama Mia for a bit. Allow me to say that as Donna, the mother of Sophie, who was trying to figure out who her real dad was in the play, you were fabulous. You carried it off beautifully, and with wonderful stage presence.

Thank you so much.

It felt like the cast really liked each other. Did you bond together with the cast?

Oh yes! This year the connections I made were really family like. It was intense. The music was great, but it’s also a really emotional story. So that made it even more intense.

You’ve got some impressive pipes too. Do you sing at home much?

Oh my gosh, yes. All the time.

Do you have a favorite singer?

Billie Eilish. She’s everything. There’s no words to describe the love.

I’m a bit embarrassed to say that I can’t name one song of hers.

What?!? That’s crazy bro.

Which should I start with?

Probably ilomilo and Billie Basa Nova. And her whole new album, Hit Me Hard and Soft.

She must have a political angle.

Yes. Definitely. Environmental justice.

Let me jump to something else. El Molino came over and combined with Analy a year before you got there. There must have been a sense of division between the Forestville kids and the Sebastopol kids. Is there any of that now?

Not at all. Not that I can tell.

You know there’s supposed to be an arts academy opening at El Molino as soon as next year. It’ll be project based learning. There are already 50 students signed up for it.

I heard you’re on the West Sonoma County Union High School district board. Is that right?

Well, two days ago was my last meeting. I was the student rep for Analy.

Were you elected to the board?

Nope. I just signed up for it.

Did the other board members listen to you?

Sometimes. I was a little outspoken at times. I think they needed to hear me when they needed a student’s point of view.

You know, something tells me that that won’t be the last board you’re going to sit on. I’m glad you got your feet wet.

Me too. It was a good learning experience.

Okay. A few easy ones, and we’ll wrap up.

A food you hate.

Cherry tomatoes when they’re cooked and mushy.

Favorite restaurant here in town?

Oh yes. I really like Portico.

Mimi’s ice cream flavor?

Cream DeMint. No question.

Movie?

Lady Bird. It came out in 2017.

Great film. All about a girl about your age, strong willed, audacious, trying to figure things out, … like you!

One last one. Do you think you’ll end up living in Sebastopol and maybe sending a 5th generation kid to Analy?

NO NO NO!!! Never! I like it here, but I think I’ll be somewhere else. One coast or another.

Alina, what a pleasure it’s been to get to know you a bit better and get a little hit of your wonderful energy. Much luck in marine biology, or on stage, or on the next board you sit on, or contributing to making the climate more survivable. You’re another one of those young people who make older people like me, a little less worried about the future. Thanks for stepping up.