Q&A: Islip Salutatorian Madeline Marconi

Madeline Marconi was named the salutatorian of the Islip High School Class of 2018.

Marconi will be attending Yale University in the Fall to study architecture.

Check out Patch's full interview with the salutatorian below:

Patch: What are your plans for after graduation?

Marconi: After I graduate high school, I will be continuing my studies at the university level. This fall, I will be attending Yale University, and I plan to major in Architecture.

P: What will you miss most about high school?

M: I will miss my friends and teachers in high school, because I can honestly say that I would not have been able to make it this far accomplish half of what I have done without them.

P: What are you most looking forward to in moving on to college?

M: In college, I am most looking forward to the intellectual and creative freedom that comes with college curriculums, through which I hope to improve myself not only academically, but also personally.

P: What was your favorite memory of high school?

M: My favorite high school memory was participating in the pit orchestra (I played viola) for the musical “Big Fish” at my school during my sophomore year (2015-2016).

P: What advice would you give to underclassmen?

M: My advice for the underclassmen would be to get involved in anything and everything. Throughout my years in high school, I was fortunate enough to be involved in a myriad of activities, such as pit orchestra, various honor societies, and cheerleading. High School is a period of time where students should step out of their comfort zones and try new activities, not only in preparation for college applications, but simply to grow as people and discover their likes and dislikes. Speaking from personal experience, participating in activities outside of my comfort zone was one of the best decisions I made in high school, and because of that, I have many memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life. I implore future graduates to make the most of their time in high school before it’s over, so that they can graduate without any regrets.

P: Any teachers/staff that stood out throughout your journey?

M: My orchestra instructor, Mr. Zachary Butterfield, has been my favorite teacher throughout high school. Mr. Butterfield was my teacher for all four of my years in high school, and has taught me some of the most important lessons that I have learned in all of high school: the importance of persistence, hard work, and confidence. He has not only shaped the attitude with which I approach new challenges, but has also left a lasting impression on my time in high school with his humor and wisdom.

P: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

M: In 10 years, I hope to have at least a master’s degree in architecture, and be a licensed architect working at an architecture firm in New York City.

P: Name a fun fact about yourself.

M: Fun Fact: I have played the viola since I was in fourth grade (9 years).