By AMANDA HOFFMANN
Among those heading off to college are Christine Schindler, 17, the class Valedictorian, and Ronnie Instrella, 18, the Salutatorian, along with Daniel China, 18, who has managed not to miss a single day of school since he started pre-school.
China, who plans to go to Nassau Community College this fall where he hopes to narrow down his major between marine biology, english and history, said he nearly blew his perfect attendance last year when he came down with a bad cold.
"I felt so sick," China said, "I put my head down during lunch." He persevered though, because he was so close to graduating and didn't want to ruin his record. The closest he came to a near miss was when a close family member died and he had to leave elementary school early one day.
"My mom always said I could stay home if I was sick and I wanted to," but China said he never really felt the need. However, he doesn't plan to keep up his perfect attendance through college. "I'm looking forward to some time off," he said.
While China is contemplating what it would be like to miss a class, Schindler is working on her graduation speech. "Be yourself, don't be scared to express who you are. That is most important," said Schindler of the advice she would pass along.
She said that the biggest mistake she sees freshman make is not getting involved.
Early on Schindler joined clubs, like Interact, a community service group that is an offshoot of the Rotary, where she is president. She also is president of Students Against Destructive Decisions and is on the varsity gymnastics team.
Her most memorable high school moment was winning the county championship in gymnastics last year. "Every year we'd get close and never succeed," she said. "I remember when we found out we won how everyone rushed out."
She believes that being a part of a team and working with so many clubs has given her the opportunity to meet people with different backgrounds and interests, which she believes will be a useful tool when she starts at William's College in Mass. next year.
"It's going to be scary to be in a new place and meet new people," Schindler said. "I'm scared it will be different than what you expect. You paint a picture of what college is going to be in your mind."
Schindler said she will be taking pre-med classes and hopes to pursue her fields of interest in biology and neuroscience. She had spent the past three summers interning at Columbia University's research laboratories.
Instrella, who is heading to Stanford to study mechanical engineering, echoed Schindler's sentiments to incoming freshman �pressing upon the importance of being an individual. "I see too many people, they don't know who they are, they just find a group and sort of follow it," said Instrella. "But I feel you could be so much more successful and productive."
During his time at OHS, Instrella has served as president and lieutenant governor of the Key Club, a service group that is an offshoot of the Kiwanis. One of his greatest achievements during high school was uniting South Shore Key Clubs, which had typically worked independently.
Like Schindler, Instrella knows his way around a lab � though his specialty is math. "I find number theory to be an art form," said Instrella. "I find the beauty in proof."
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