As the sun rises over the horizon, Buena alumni Lyndie Brown and members of her Ventura Plunge Club race toward the waves, ready to dive into the brisk waters of the Promenade. Brown started the club to bring a fun and unique experience to her community, driven by her love for trying new things- just one of the many passions she pursues.
Lyndie created an Instagram account, @vtaplungeclub, for anybody in Ventura to join her club. Meeting with her club every Saturday morning at 6 a.m. sunrise, the club starts with a casual walk along the beach to warm up then plunge in the ocean. The club started a month ago and took off from there.
“I started it in an effort to find more like minded people,” Brown said. “I wanted to create a space where people can elevate their health and wellness without spending money.”
As an early senior graduate, Brown is an achiever as well as a motivator. She’s known for being a big hearted person and loves to help others. Her work includes serving as the president of Interact Club, going on humanitarian trips, volunteering and being an on-call nanny.
Brown graduated in December with a 3.965 GPA, completing her high school diploma a semester early though the dual enrollment program at Ventura College, taking online classes recommended by her counselor, Shannon Pelmear. She continues to participate in senior activities and events, most recently attending Senior Ball, and plans to walk with her graduating class this June.
Lyndie’s older sister Lainey Brown graduated a year early from El Camino High School, so when Lyndie saw her sister accomplish such a task, she was inspired to do the same.
“When I saw [Lainey] do that, I thought I could definitely graduate a semester early,” Lyndie said, “She is a big motivation for me.”
One of Lyndie’s biggest influences is English teacher Antoinette Perez, who Lyndie knew was always in her corner to support and encourage her dreams and aspirations.
“I genuinely want the best for her because I am her biggest fan in the sense of knowing and believing in her,” Perez said.
Lyndie’s favorite hobbies include roller skating, rock climbing and ceramics. However, her true passion lies in community service, which inspired her to bring back the Interact Club. Her sister had been the president of the club about six years ago, but after COVID, she graduated and the club went without leadership for a few years.
Lyndie decided to start it back up in Sep. of 2022, and took it upon herself to ask Lauren Lanski, a former teacher from Buena, to help Lyndie get things started. Rotary Club has been financially supporting the club, so they can put little libraries in local laundromats for kids who wait at the laundromat and don’t have any books to read.
“Most of the time the kids that go to the laundromat don’t own books at home, so we decided to provide some for them,” Lyndie said.
Lyndie is deeply committed to serving both her local community and people around the world, which is why she has participated in humanitarian trips. Her family is involved in Builders of Hope, an organization that builds homes in Ensenada, Mexico, for families who cannot afford their own. To fund these trips, her family bakes and sells cinnamon rolls locally. Additionally, Lyndie saved up her earnings from her job at Snapper Jack’s to support her trips to Mexico.
“It’s really cool to get to know the families we help and interact with them,” Lyndie said.
But she hasn’t stopped there. Lyndie was a member of an organization called HXP Humanitarian Experience. She went to Samoa and Fiji to build a Medical Center at Samoa Victim Support Group, a shelter home for women and children that have been abused or neglected.
“She is such a giver, so loving and caring and it’s evident in the things she does, like her humanitarian work,” Perez said.
Lyndie continues to help others, her giving and loving traits show as her and her friend Annika Harris decided to go to help and work with Buena student Duncan Harris this summer, helping him at his summer camp, Golden Heart Ranch Camp in Agoura Hills, that is for students with intellectual disabilities. Lyndie and Annika plan to be Duncan’s motivator and helper, being by his side while he completes fun activities like crafts and swimming.
“It’s a great opportunity to learn and adapt daily tasks to their individual needs and abilities,” Lyndie said.
It is Lyndie’s mission to be there for others and give the care they need. Her plan is to attend Southern Virginia University and major in either psychology or family and human developments to become an occupational therapist. She was close with all the kids in the special education program at her school, which influenced her passion for becoming an occupational therapist.
“Do what you’re interested in, rather than what others want you to do,” Lyndie said.
