By Nicole Falco
More than 90 percent of them will attend a two- or four-year college, according to the district's state report card; some have chosen a trade or technical school; others chose the military; and a few may head straight to work.
Kristen O'Leary, a South High School graduate, truly made the most of high school. The list of clubs, activities and honors associated with O'Leary's name seems endless. She was Student Council president, class secretary and co-editor of the yearbook; a member of Students Against Drunk Driving, the Key Club, the Student Peer Organization and the "It's Academic" trivia team; she was a member of numerous honor societies including the Math, Science, Athletic, Language and National Honor Societies; and she played for the school's soccer, baseball and basketball teams.
"I was always told to try things out and I guess I ended up liking everything I tried and sticking it out," O'Leary said.
O'Leary said doing so much kept her focused.
"Especially team sports; when other people depend on you, you have to have team responsibilities," O'Leary said.
Her resume, grade point average and an impressive 1520 on the SATs, earned O'Leary numerous awards and scholarships. Recently named a News 12 Scholar Athlete, O'Leary earned a full scholarship to Boston College, which she will attend in the fall.
"Staying home [and attending college], it really never was a thought. I lived in Valley Stream my whole life and wanted to experience something new," O'Leary said. "I think I was saying since I was old enough to know about college that I wanted to go away."
While O'Leary is a native of Valley Stream, Andres Melo, a North High School graduate, lived in Columbia, South America, till August 2000.
"It's totally different in my country. ... Teachers come to you in the classroom. ... Here you go to them. [In Columbia] everyone takes the same courses," Melo said. "Here teachers make things easier to understand, more interesting and there is more material to learn."
At first Melo thought he knew English, but soon realized that the English he learned in school in Columbia since the sixth grade was not enough.
"At the beginning it was really hard. When I began taking harder classes like pre-calculus I would go to class, but I didn't understand. I wouldn't go to bed until I finished my homework," Melo said.
"My math teacher gave us a homework assignment to do problems one to 20, even [numbered problems only], but I didn't know what even or odd meant, so I did all 20," Melo recalled.
Melo quickly made the most of his high school education and moved out of ESL courses into regular courses. He was also a member of the volleyball and soccer teams and a member of the Science and National Honor Societies. Melo credits his family, including three siblings, with helping him adjust.
On Aug. 28, almost two years to the day since he moved to the United States, Melo will move again, this time to begin college at SUNY Binghamton.
"I'm leaving everything I have again. I'm moving to Binghamton and I have to begin again," Melo said. "[But] I kind of like doing things on my own. I will miss [my family], but it's another step I'll have to take."
As a high school student in Columbia, Melo attended military school. Had he not attended military school, Melo would have been expected to join his country's army after high school. In the United States, military service, though not mandatory, is a good way for young adults to possibly earn an advanced education and explore the world.
Central High School graduate Dominic Castiello hopes to do just that. In November 2001, Castiello enlisted in the Marines. He will leave for 13 weeks of boot camp at Parris Island, S.C., on Aug. 12.
"My mother is nervous. Both my parents are probably nervous, but my mother shows it more," Castiello said. "[My parents] respect my decision to do what I want to do."
Castiello said he chose the Marines partly because he considers it the most challenging of all the military branches.
"I always looked up to them [the Marines]. I admired what they did, I was always interested and I felt that is where I belonged," Castiello said. "If you're going to do it, you might as well do it all the way. I know it's going to be tough. [The Marines] break you down then build you back up and make you what they want you to be."
In high school, Castiello, a varsity football and baseball player, was an honor student. Still, Castiello chose military service over college because "a lot of people go to college and have no idea what they want to do."
"I'd like to get away and see some of the world and get experiences I couldn't get in college. I wanted to do something different," Castiello said.
Castiello plans to take college courses once his military training is complete.
"I was in the process of enlisting and I was ready to go before [Sept. 11] happened. Before that people maybe said, 'Why are you doing that?' I think now their eyes are opened more and people see that we need people to defend our country," Castiello said.
His military career may take him to other countries, O'Leary's school is in another state and Melo's is in another city, but not all graduates are leaving home.
Elizabeth Kowalski, a Central High School graduate, will attend Adelphi University, less than 20 minutes away. Attending Adelphi will give Kowalski the opportunity to continue helping her parents, Kazi and Andrew, who are both legally deaf, but she will still get to experience independence since she will be dorming at the school.
Growing up with deaf parents, Kowalski did not learn to speak until she was almost 4-years-old and only after she attended a special school.
"I was mute when I was little. Now I talk non-stop," Kowalski said.
Her mom was born deaf, but her dad lost 60 percent of his hearing after a childhood bout with scarlet fever.
"Other kids can ask their moms to call in for them or their moms can talk to other moms. I was the one who took on those responsibilities. I make phone calls for them, take them to doctors' appointments...I've been their backbone," Kowalski said. Her brother, Tommy, 14, also helps out.
Kowalski credits that extra responsibility with helping her to manage her time between school, a part-time job and family.
"I'm happy, I'm not complaining. I put little inserts here and there into my life and that's how I know how to balance everything," Kowalski said.
At school, Kowalski was a Class of 2002 officer, a Varsity and Language Club member, an honor student, and played on the volleyball and softball teams.
Kowalski came to Valley Stream from Queens in seventh grade and credits Central with helping her become who she is today.
"It sounds funny, but they helped me be more of a person. They helped me establish what I wanted to do. I'm going to look back and say, 'They changed me,'" Kowalski said.
Kowalski plans on studying education and possibly teach hearing-impaired youngsters one day. O'Leary's ultimate career goal is to be happy at what she does and right now being a judge is one thought. After the military, Castiello has a few options in mind including law enforcement or teaching. Melo has medicine in mind, particularly plastic surgery.
But, for now, they'll just concentrate on summer.
