He plays the cello and piano. He sings in the school’s top choir and competes at the state level. He is the president of the Tri-M Honor Society and sails for the Cedar Park Sailing team on the side. Still, he maintains good grades and time for friends.  

This is senior Julian Rabago.  

Rabago is going to Trinity University this upcoming fall and plans to major in engineering sciences. He decided to commit after carefully considering his options. 

“Trinity University was one of the best options for me because of the educational and social environment,” Rabago said. “I felt very at home on campus and liked how they structured their classes. I chose engineering sciences because I’ve always loved tinkering and coming up with solutions to problems, and this degree will allow me to explore this. Lastly, I can do engineering and continue my development as a musician.” 

Music, Rabago said, is very important to him.. He learned piano at the age of three and cello at the age of five from his mother, and he’s been playing ever since.  

“I’ve been doing those all the way until now, and I started singing in sixth grade,” Rabago said. “Music for me, is something where I can express myself and just have a good time with all my friends.”

This year, Rabago made the All-State Choir in Texas. Rabago had to advance from Region to Pre-Area to Area, with each round harder than the last. The pieces Rabago performed all had their own unique flairs, from varying complexity to different languages, which required a great deal of time to practice.

“The All-State process was stressful at times, but offered an unparalleled reward,” Rabago said. “I was initially excited because I was winning the rounds for my voice part, and this coincided with hard work. When I got to the convention, I was amazed. It was marvelous to perform with like-minded musicians. I was extremely proud, happy and dedicated on stage while performing.”  

Rabago is also the President of the Tri-M Honor Society, an honor society that anyone in a music-related class can join. He joined in his freshman year, and wanted to use his leadership skills and knowledge of music to lead others in the honor society this year.  

“I enjoy music a lot, and I thought I could help convey my love for music through our communal work,” Rabago said. “I just wanted to be a leader in my community and show my true passion for music work.

Aside from being a musician at heart, Rabago also is in the sport of sailing, which he started in his freshman year and joined because his friend, senior Lucas Tenrreiro, was also involved.  

“One of my best friends sails, and in high school I wanted to do a sport, so I chose sailing,” Rabago said. “I’ve been sailing through the Austin Yacht Club and sailing for Cedar Park through high school sailing.”  

Outside of academics, Rabago is part of a friend group that calls themselves “Home Depot,” which is a joke based on the home improvement retailer. This group has been together since elementary school, allowing them to grow close over the years.  

“I think it started with a friend group in elementary school, and we’ve been friends ever since,” Rabago said. “We’re so close together. It’s truly like a group of people that I just love to death, and it’s really awesome that we’re all still friends even, you know, seven, eight years later.”

As his senior year comes to a close, Rabago said he’s reflected on his high school years and his recommendations for current high school students. 

“I want to take some of my habitual things into college,” Rabago said. “I’ve developed some good habits through studying and just work ethic. My advice would be just try to try to stay on top of everything because you can handle a lot more than you think.”