Q: Do you have advice for other students who are working toward the Top Ten?

A: I would say the most important thing is consistency. It can get difficult to keep yourself disciplined, but you need to be willing to put in the work especially if you’re shooting for Top 10.

Q: Choose one other member of the top ten and tell us something you admire about them.

A: I admire students like Samantha Horgan and Samuel Lorenzo that not only prioritize school but also put time into playing sports or performing music. From personal experience I know that making deadlines for assignments is tough, but adding in after school practices, games, and concerts makes it harder. They put in a lot of effort towards their extracurriculars, and they shouldn’t only be recognized for their grades.

Q: What are you planning to do beyond high school?

A: Career-wise I’m still unsure. However, I do plan on attending an affordable school with great resources where I can hopefully figure that out.

Q: Any special shout outs to people in your life that may have helped you on this journey?

A: I definitely need to acknowledge my mom who allowed me to pursue sports and music while also placing a priority on school. She was the one driving me to tennis practices, saxophone lessons, rehearsals, school events, etc. . During many of these car rides I’d recite my notes as a method of studying and she was always a great audience. My mom never complained about the time she’s invested and I’m thankful for her support.

Q: What’s your go-to study snack when you’re pulling an all-nighter?

A: Personally, I’ve never pulled an all-nighter. In my mind, no amount of schoolwork is worth sacrificing my health. However, you can’t go wrong with peanut butter on toast with a glass of milk.

Q: Do you have advice for other students who are working toward the Top Ten?

A: One piece of advice would be to not compare yourself to other students. Everyone learns differently so success will look different for everyone. By focusing on my own academic journey, I found I was less stressed and ended up doing better in my classes as a result.

Q: Choose one other member of the top ten and tell us something you admire about them.

A: I’d have to say I admire Sam Lorenzo. After knowing him since elementary school, he has always been a hard worker and definitely deserves to be valedictorian.

Q: What are you planning to do beyond high school?

A: After high school I plan on attending Stony Brook University to study biochemistry. After working as a tutor, I could definitely see myself becoming a teacher in the future but for now I know I want to further explore the fields of biology and chemistry.

Q: Any special shout outs to people in your life that may have helped you on this journey?

A: I wouldn’t be here without Mr. Draghi, Mrs. Vollaro and Ms. Hanley. They helped me discover my passion for science and always pushed me to be a better student and person.

Q: What’s your go-to study snack when you’re pulling an all-nighter?

A: I’ve honestly never pulled an all nighter! Sleep is too important for me but if I had to pick a study snack it would probably be fruit.