Caleb Malabuyo, now a junior at Scotts Valley High School, was featured on the August 2012 cover of Growing Up in Santa Cruz. He remembers the photo shoot. “I was totally trying to seem nonchalant about it, but I was actually really excited to be in a magazine.” He remembers when the magazine came out. “I had mixed feelings at first because in all the photos we took I had this cool new Sharks hat on, and the ONE picture it fell off my head was the one that was used for the cover. But I quickly got over it after my friends and family showed their enthusiasm for my appearance. My family was super happy for me getting on the cover and my grandparents immediately framed it and it still is hanging on their wall today.”

That was over eight years ago. A lot has happened in Caleb’s life since then. Caleb’s family moved to England when his dad was transferred to Google’s London office. Caleb did part of 5th grade and middle school there. “British and American schools are very similar and very different at the same time. Here we have roughly 5-7 classes.  The school I went to had 17 mandatory classes. And this was on a two-week rotating schedule, so it was almost impossible to remember where you needed to go and getting lost was pretty common. Some of these mandatory classes included religious studies, art, computing, geography, drama, and more, along with all the normal academic classes. We also had to wear school uniforms with a blazer and tie every day.” Caleb’s family took advantage of their proximity to Europe, so every school break they checked out a different European country. 

When asked about adjusting to the school and cultural changes, Caleb said, “Honestly for the most part I didn’t find it too difficult to go there, because I was the cool American kid from California (which means Hollywood to them). Coming back, I already knew most people and was able to pick up on those friendships where I left off.”

“Shortly after moving back some of my good friends were starting a band and wanted a permanent drummer. Since I was there for most of the band practices, and I already had a pretty good sense of rhythm, I naturally became their drummer. Shortly after that, the newfound Polarity Band played their first gig on the 4th of July at the celebration at Skypark. Polarity is still together but Covid-19 has made it very hard to find or play at gigs. I have been playing for Gateway Bible Church for a while and Santa Cruz Bible Church more recently.” Besides drumming Caleb has a passion for art and design He also plays a lot of video games and he’s learning to skate.

He plans to attend college after high school. Caleb said he had no idea what was going to happen in his life when those cover photos were taken back in 2012 “From my experiences, I have found that change should be embraced, and opportunities are made to be taken.”

Do you remember the photoshoot for the cover picture? What were your feelings about it?
I do remember the photoshoot and I was totally trying to seem nonchalant about it but I was actually really excited to be in a magazine. 

How did you feel when you saw yourself on the cover of Growing Up?
I had mixed feelings at first because in all the photos we took I had this cool new sharks hat on, and the ONE picture it fell off my head was the one that was used for the cover. But I quickly got over it after my friends and family showed their enthusiasm for my appearance. 

How did your family (parents, siblings, grandparents, extended family) react to seeing you on the cover?
My family was super happy for me getting on the cover and my grandparents immediately framed it and it still is hanging on their wall today.

Did any of your friends or teachers say anything about you being on the cover?
I don’t remember if I told my teachers, but I definitely told my friends… a lot. They didn’t believe me at first, but when I showed them they thought I was awesome and asked how they could get on a cover. I didn’t tell them of course. 

That was over 8 years ago. What have you done with your life since then?
A couple of years after that photoshoot I moved to England for some of the 5th grade (called year 6 there) and then middle school (which is high school there). I lived in a town called Woking for about 2 years, and during the breaks in school, my family and I would vacation to a different European country. Then I came back to the US and picked up some new hobbies, then moved houses, and after the first “stay at home order” picked up some more hobbies. Now I am stuck at home like everyone, waiting for the virus to pass. 

How did British schools compare to American schools?
British and American schools are very similar and very different at the same time. Here we have roughly 5-7 classes including extracurricular, which are optional, and usually, every other day is roughly the same.  The school I went to had 17 mandatory classes. And this was on a two-week rotating schedule so it was almost impossible to remember where you needed to go, and getting lost was pretty common. Some of these mandatory classes included religious studies, art, computing, geography, drama, and more, along with all the normal academic classes. As you progressed from year 7 to year 11, you were able to choose your own classes. There was the main building and a lot of classrooms were inside because it was so cold outside. We also had to wear school uniforms with a blazer and tie every day and every so often there was a special day called day 11, because of the 10 days in the normal two weeks, and this is where we could wear our own clothes and we got to choose from an array of special activities for the day. Other than that, the school was very similar to the US with classes, worksheets, and homework. 

Did you find it difficult to adjust to the differences either coming or going? If yes, how so?
Honestly for the most part I didn’t find it too difficult to go there, because I was the cool American kid from California (which means Hollywood to them), and the fact that I came in year 6, so everyone was moving to a new school along with me. And coming back, I already knew most people and was able to pick up on those friendships where I left off. Of course, it was difficult to leave those relationships I had with those people and leave the place I have been my whole life or just gotten used to, but I got lucky to have such a good experience with moving. 

What was your favorite British cultural thing?
My favorite British cultural thing has got to be the tea and scones. Afternoon tea and scones with clotted cream and lemon curd when it was 5°C (41°F)is the best. Also, the candy, like Cadbury and Haribos, are delicious.

What American cultural thing were you happy to return to?
The American cultural thing I was happy to return to is the Mexican food. I could not get a good taco, burrito, and quesadilla for such a long time. 

Tell me about your drum playing. Is it your primary passion? Were you self taught? Do you play at school? I know you played in a band on the 4th of July at the celebration at Skypark. Are you still with that band? I know you play with two worship bands. Tell me about that.
Shortly after moving back some of my good friends were starting a band and wanted a permanent drummer, because their drummer at the time, my guitarist friend’s brother, wasn’t really interested in drumming anymore. Since I was there for most of the band practices, and I already had a pretty good sense of rhythm, I naturally became their drummer. Shortly after that, the newfound Polarity Band played their first gig on the 4th of July at the celebration at Skypark. I got an electric drum set first and then an acoustic when I moved houses. When I first started playing I learned by watching drum covers of my favorite songs and playing along with them until I attended Soundwall Music Camp where everyone could read music, so I began to take drum lessons about 1 and a half years into playing. Since then Polarity is still together but Covid-19 has made it very hard to find or play at gigs. Also, I have been playing for Gateway Bible Church for a while since my dad plays piano there, and Santa Cruz Bible Church more recently. 

What other passions/interests do you have?
Another passion of mine is art and design. Ever since I was a kid I loved drawing superheroes, and last year I was gifted an Ipad and apple pencil. I love to draw and have been trying to expand my mediums for art on my own time, as well as in art class in school. I also play a lot of video games and I’m learning how to skate. 

You’re a senior, right? How do you feel about that?
I am a junior. It is crazy to me how fast time moves and it almost feels like yesterday I was in the UK and I am disappointed that Covid has taken so much time from my high school experience. 

What are your plans after you graduate?
After I graduate I plan on attending college. Beyond that, I have no idea what I want to do. I am interested in something along the lines of art and design, and I am considering going to college in Europe but nothing is set in stone. 

If your friends were going to describe to you what three words or phrases would they use?
My friends would describe me as Eccentric, Outgoing, and Friendly. 
If your family were to describe you, what three words or phrases would they use?
My family would describe me as Responsible, Thoughtful, and Entertaining.

Do you have a job? If so, tell me about it.
I do not have a job because I am taking most of the hardest classes at my school so I spend too much time doing homework(especially during online learning), chores, and hobbies. 

What else should the world know about you?
The world should know that I had no idea what was going to happen in my life when I took those photos, and what path I was going to take. And from my experiences, I have found that change should be embraced, and opportunities are made to be taken.