This Week's Student Spotlight: Tara Condon

Age: 17

School: Senior at Albertus Magnus High School

Tara is a vibrant young woman who is always getting involved whether it's at school, with Girl Scouts or local organizations.

"My goal in life is to make others smile and to help others before myself," said Tara Condon.

In school she is involved in as many activities as her schedule allows. Sports is something that Tara enjoys and she has been a tri-season athlete throughout her high school career.

During the Fall season you can find Tara on the soccer field where she is currently starring in the goalie position. Recently Tara along with her teammates played against Nanuet High School in a for Breast Cancer that raised $1,300. In 2010, Tara was awarded All League and Most Valuable Player for soccer.

"I would have to say my biggest rival this year was Nanuet High School. I know numerous girls on the team, including the goalie who is one of my good friends. The competition was strong, and the rivalry was fun and caused two great games between us. One of which was for Breast Cancer."

In the winter Tara runs Track. As captain she is a leader in the High Jump, 300m, 600m and 1600m relay. She has been on the Varsity since 2008. In 2009, Tara received Most Improved Player and in 2010 & 2011 she was titled the Most Valuable Player. In 2010, she received Section 1 Class C third place in the 300m and in 2011, she won Section 1 Class C second place in the 600m.

In the spring she shines on the softball field where she is also the captain and a star centerfielder.

"Every year, Albertus Magnus softball has been able to participate in the championships in the hopes of continuing on to sections. But for the past two years there has been one team that always stands in our way and puts up a fight, Rye Neck High School. Though we are never able to play this team during our regular season, this team is my biggest rival. They are the only team standing in our way for the Section Title, and I plan on taking them this year."

In 2009, Tara and her team won the Section 1 Class B Softball Championship. Her list of awards for softball are:

• Coach’s Award for Softball (2010)(2011)                                         
• All League for Softball (2010)(2011)
• All County Second Team for Softball (2010)(2011)
• All Section Honorable Mention for Softball (2011) 

The 2012, softball season will be an exciting time for Albertus and especially the seniors on the team.

Tara's achievements in sports are just as impressive as all the other aspects of her life.

In the classroom, Tara has excelled academically. She has received Honors every year in high school and she is enrolled in AP courses as well. This year she is taking AP English Literature and Composition, AP European History, and AP Calculus (BC). Last year she took AP Biology, AP English Language and Composition, and AP United States History.

Adding to Tara's list of interests in addition to sports and advanced classes are numerous clubs.

"Within my school, I am also trying to reach out and get involved in whatever I can. I take part in various clubs and activities like Future Health Care Professional Club, where I am a co-president of the club. I also partake in the Pro-life Club, Red Cross Club, Youth Against Cancer, Campus Ministry, Stage crew for the Drama club, Mock Trial, Newspaper and Peer Tutoring. I am a Senior Ambassador and the Vice President of the student body and the student council. As well as the Manager of the AMHS football team."

She also volunteers her time at various schools functions like the Albertus Magnus Open House and Accepted Student Nights.

She is involved with the art club and the literary magazine. In her junior year, she had a poem published in the book "On My Mind," which is a collection of poems from high school students within the Hudson Valley area.

"I am very creative and love the arts but am unable to fit any art classes into my schedule, so instead I take part in these clubs to keep my interests alive."

Tara has been involved with Girl Scouts since she was seven years old. She still belongs to Troop 586 from North Rockland.

"I am a Girl Scout Ambassador for Girl Scouts of America. I have received my Silver award and am currently working towards my Gold award. In my project, I want to bring about the awarness of  those less fortunate living in Africa. The Organization that my project will benefit will be S.H.A.R.E., created by a woman who inspires me everyday. I met her while attending a Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) conference last summer."

If there is any time to spare in Tara's week she will focus her energy on volunteering in the community. She has participated in walks for Alzheimer's Disease and walks for Cystic Fibrosis.

She has also assisted at soup kitchens and food pantries with her Girl Scout troop. For fun, Tara enjoys the “Turkey Trot”  at Rockland Lake on Thanksgiving morning and also has attended and organized various Midnight Runs with her senior class.

Tara's energy and enthusiasm for her school community is inspirational. She really seems to have embraced as much as she could during her years at Albertus.

She is currently working out her future plans as to where and what she will study in college.

"Within my life I have always surrounded myself with people and sports, so when I began to think about what I wanted to do with my life, I tried to connect the two. This goal of mine attracted me into the field of Athletic Training and Physical Therapy. My top three schools are Ithaca College,  Arcadia University and the University of Delaware, all of which are ranked highly for their Physical Therapy programs. But my dream school is Columbia University, of which I hope to be attending next fall."

Sounds like a perfect plan for this smart, athletic, and energetic young lady.

Enjoy the rest of your senior year and best of luck to you as you finish up the soccer season.