Pictured farthest to the right, Dominique Green poses next to her classmates before their senior prom. “[Being a part of the first class] was just part of the journey…everyone had to be flexible, resilient, go with the flow,” Greene said. (Photo courtesy of Shana Silveri.)

Dominique Greene, a graduate of Archer’s first class in 2001, was part of the early group of students who shaped Archer’s legacy. At that time, Archer was not yet in its permanent location at the Eastern Star Home. Instead, classes were taught in the Community United Methodist Church in the Pacific Palisades, and fitness classes took place in a nearby park.

The Oracle sat down with Dominique Greene to discuss her experience of being part of the first Archer class.

What was it like being a part of the first class?

Dominique Greene [DG]:  I just remember it being like we were embarking on an adventure, like uncharted waters. There wasn’t a school that we could go tour, and [the administration] was figuring out what the uniforms were going to look like and all of that. It felt exciting but a big leap of faith, and I would say that’s what it felt like for the early years before the campus you’re at today. [Archer was] almost like a startup, because we were figuring it out as we went. It felt like we were empowered to be a part of crafting the culture of Archer, and the ethos of Archer, and the legacy of Archer — that felt really exciting.

Can you describe any challenges that your class faced and how you overcame them?

[DG]: Archer was still a smaller school at that time. I think now, the classes are [about] 60 students a grade. So, our [class] was 18 [people], so in the beginning, I think we graduated, though, with 26 girls. Socially, I think it was tricky because everyone’s figuring themselves out, so I think kind of figuring out that dynamic could be challenging sometimes. We didn’t have a campus, so it was kind of like we were a very dispersed school, and I remember really being excited about the prospect of moving into what was the Eastern Star home and having a, kind of, place to call home.

How has the school changed since you graduated?

[DG]: The facilities are amazing. The fact that you guys have a cafeteria or uniforms has definitely changed. I think that the specializations that the school offers around STEM and robotics [has changed.] There was a robotics team when I was there, but we didn’t have the facilities you have today. Every time I go on campus, it still feels like Archer is there at the core.

How did your time at Archer influence your path after graduation?

[DG]: Being at Archer, long story short, gave me the courage to pave my own path and to have confidence in my choices, and to be willing to experiment and explore different areas and to continue to learn throughout my life.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

[DG]: One thing is that my friends from Archer are like my sisters. The friends I made at Archer are literally my family, and I think that just speaks to the community of Archer. That is the biggest blessing.