By JOSEPH KELLARD
Valedictorian Ross Altman and salutatorian Bret Tenenhaus agree that they reached such academic heights not necessarily by relying on their brains or countless hours of study, but mainly by staying motivated and working efficiently.
"I think it's mainly about the fact that as long as you care enough and are somewhat motivated, you'll do your best," Ross said when asked what goes into becoming a valedictorian.
"I have plenty of time for a social life and sports," Brett said while dispelling the stereotype that all top students do is study. "I worked hard but I worked efficiently. I never really spent very many hours working on something. I've lived a pretty normal life, I think."
While Bret will take his studies to Dartmouth next fall, Ross will hit the books at Cornell. Until then, Bret is still considering his field of study, leaning toward pre-med but with an eye on economics, as Ross considers a career in science but has yet to decide on a particular field.
Ross is certainly no stranger to scientific researching, having taken it up in seventh grade and spending much of the past two years, including summer vacations, working at SUNY-Stony Brook on research that earned him big academic dividends. Under the direction of Nancy Goroff, an assistant chemistry professor, Ross conducted a computer study on the synthesis of kekulene. His paper on his research earned him a spot among 300 semifinalists in the nationwide Intel Science Talent Search scholastic competition in February.
Despite his devotion to the sciences, including his membership in Science Club, Ross still involved himself in various activities over his high-school career, from Spanish Honor Society and National Honor Society to Law Club and Habitat for Humanity, an organization that builds homes for poorer people. During his down time, Ross said he relaxes by watching television or going to movies with friends.
Bret, too, can point to his involvement in various activities, including World Interest Club and National Honor Society, as well as the Sider Press school newspaper, for which he was the viewpoints editor this year after being sports editor as a junior. Sports have also played a big part of Bret's high-school career. For the past five years, thanks initially to the urging of his older brother, Michael, Bret has been active in wrestling, and was named the varsity team's captain this past season.
"Wrestling taught me a lot about life," Bret said, "like never giving up, and how this applies to anything in life: keep going and persevere."
Bret points to his coaches Mike Janosko and Angelo Natoli as wielding a strong influence on him. He cites Dr. James Skinner, an English teacher, and Richard Roschelle, a social studies teacher, for providing the greatest academic influences.
"They keep a respectful relationship, but they got to know you as a person" said Bret, who scored 1470 on his SAT and has a 104.5 average. "They can keep ground with you on the same level, and you probably learn more from them that way because you can take them more seriously."
Ross, who earned a 1560 SAT score and a 104.5 average, said he found that his teachers at OHS do everything in their power to make it a good place to learn. Among his strongest influences were Martin Glynn, a chemistry and biology teacher. "He is always very nice and funny, and he made sure that we learned as much as we could," Ross said. He also noted the impact Kathy Rosenbaum, a Spanish teacher, had on him. "She's been one of my best advocates at school. She recommended me to be one of the founding members of the Spanish Honor Society."
Ross was a youngster when his father passed away, but he recalls that his father was a person who initially sparked his interest in science, having tinkered in the field and made some minor inventions into household improvements. Nonetheless, Ross is grateful that he's had a mother who has encouraged him and taught him independence. "She's always been very supportive," Ross said, "and she let me pick my own direction."
Bret recalled how his mother pushed him to work steadily at home when he was in grade school, such as read a half-hour every day, but then the day came "when I didn't need that motivation any more, and she left me on my own and I was fine," he said. He thanks his father for "opening me to the world of learning," and remembered how he would take him and his family to Washington D.C. and Gettysburg, "and as a result of that I've come to love history. I've read a lot of Civil War novels that he's read."
In addition to playing baseball with friends, Bret said he's a big sports fan, going to Jets games at the Meadowlands with his family and keeps abreast of his fantasy baseball standings.
If Ross and Bret can give any of their own paternal-type advice to students, it is to keep an open mind about courses and teachers. "Don't just do what the teachers tell you," Ross said. "You actually want to try and learn. Don't be a robot."
Bret, too, believes you should try and learn as much as possible from teachers, fellow students and people in general. "Don't get caught up in people telling you, oh, you need this course or that course for your resume," Bret said. "Don't do things for your resume, do things because you want to do them.
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