Oceanside High School’s best and brightest

What does it take to be successful? If you ask the top two students of Oceanside High School, it’s hard work and passion. Class of 2015 Valedictorian Alan Khaykin and Salutatorian Abigail Buckley have those qualities in abundance.

Both spoke to the Herald about dedication, their numerous extracurricular activities and what they have learned in high school.

“If you want to do something, go out and do it,” said Khaykin. “And don’t be afraid that you’re not going to have time for it because it always works out in the end if you really want it enough and you really try hard enough.

In addition to his 105.235 weighted GPA, Khaykin is the Law Club Vice President, plays varsity tennis, and very involved in Model United Nations, or World Interest Club. He and a friend even founded the Cancer Awareness Club, which recently raised $23,000 in an all-night dance-a-thon.

Khaykin is going to Duke University for a possible double major in biology and economics. He also has an interest in biomedical engineering thanks to lab internships at Columbia University and Mount Sinai. In the future he wants to create innovations, improve the standard of living for people and to start his own company.

Buckley has a 104.885 weighted GPA. She is the vice-president of the Gay Straight Alliance, an All-County chorus member, the historian of Thespians — the theatre honor society — and a 13-year girl scout who has earned bronze and silver awards. She plans to try for her gold award this summer by making pick up and drop off safer at Oceanside High School.

“Time management is key,” Buckley said. “Don’t bite off more than you can chew. And if you really want to achieve something, you’ll [let yourself] do it. And if don’t have the motivation to let yourself do it, then that just means you don’t want it enough.”

Buckley is going to Dartmouth College, where she will study physics or biology, and definitely minor in Spanish. She said she has always liked the language, and her five-person Spanish Literature class — Khaykin is one of her classmates — has made her more interested in the culture.