Aleksandr Otus is a junior in the School for Advanced Studies. Born and raised in LA, he is passionate about history, reading and politics. He has one cat and used to have 3 guinea pigs. Aleksandr enjoys  hiking, backpacking and skiing. His outdoor adventures have taken him to many states in the west and Alaska. During the winter and spring he likes skiing. His favorite book is the, Years of Lyndon B. Johnson by Robert Caro, a biography about President Johnson’s  rise to power from Texas hill country. Aleksandr volunteers at the Silverlake Branch of the LA City Library. He plays guitar, German, and has been learning ASL for the past 2 years.