Meet Peekskill's Valedictorian and Salutatorian, Class of 2018

PEEKSKILL, NY — This year's valedictorians and salutatorians are an extraordinary group of young people. Patch asked them to answer a few questions about their high school experience and what they look forward to in the future.

Meet Valedictorian Glickert and Salutatorian Valentina Loaiza, Peekskill High School Class of 2018.

Question: What will you miss most about high school?

Glickert: I will miss my teachers the most. The teachers that I mentioned and all the other ones who have dealt with my talkative spirit.

Loaiza: I will definitely miss the diversity and welcoming ambiance of our school. We all get along pretty well, regardless of where we come from. I’ll miss the teachers that were supportive and truly care about us. I’ll definitely miss the comfort of living in the town I grew up in and seeing familiar faces.

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

Glickert: I am looking forward to the amount of knowledge that will enter my brain throughout college. I love to learn so I cannot wait to start learning about topics that interest me. I am really excited for the lifelong friendships that I know I will make in college.

Loaiza: I’m really looking forward to meeting interesting people from all over the country and the world. I can’t wait to be surrounded by different cultures and find people who share the same passion as me.

Q: What was your favorite high school class?

Glickert: My favorite class this year was AP English Literature. I enjoyed my teacher the most, Ms. Jones. She has a great energy about her that always made me have a good time in her class and I enjoy reading so the class was practically built for me.

Loaiza: I definitely have two favorite classes this year, AP United States Government and Politics and Classism, Racism and Sexism. These classes have been the most important to me as they introduced me to the harsh realities of our society. The majority of the burdens that exist in our society are derived from the poor policy-making of our government. Learning about these injustices infuriated me and I realized that the only way I could possibly make a change was by majoring in Government. I appreciate the impact these classes had on my overall perspective on life by helping me figure out what career I wanted to pursue in college.

Q: What clubs or extracurriculars were you involved in?

Glickert: I have played Varsity Softball since 8th grade, Varsity Volleyball since 10th grade and Varsity Bowling since 10th grade. I am in the National Honor Society, National Science Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, and am President of the National Math Honor Society. I am a member of the Interact Club. We participate in volunteer activities in the community. Most of my community service takes place at my church, First Baptist Church of Peekskill.

Loaiza: I began to get involved with the various clubs in our school ever since freshman year. I began as a member of the Interact Club where we volunteered at the ASPCA and Drum Hill Nursing Home. That year, I also joined French Club and was introduced to the basics of the French language. In junior year, I became a member of the Latino Culture Club where we participated in various activities, including the Peekskill Special Olympics. I am also a member of various honor societies. I am currently the Vice President of the National Science Honor Society and an active member of the National Honor Society, National Math Honor Society and National Social Studies Honor Society. Outside of school, I’ve been an active volunteer as a tutor at the Peekskill Field Library. I tutor children in math, reading, writing and homework. I was also an English tutor for adults who yearned to learn English as a second language. I also worked with CUNY Citizenship Now! offering free immigration services.

Q: What advice would you give to underclassmen?

Glickert: Take advantage of the free AP classes that PHS has to offer. The best teachers in this school are the AP teachers so you will get the best education if you take the AP classes. They are more work but it is worth it.

Loaiza: I’d like our younger students to know that they will achieve anything they set their minds to. Persistence is key to achieve your goals, regardless of how large or small they are. High school does get more difficult, but college gets even worse. Therefore, it’s crucial to get the appropriate preparation for college while still being in high school. I would also like to emphasize the importance of establishing a good relationship with your teachers. Do not feel embarrassed if you need extra help more than others, you are doing this for your own well-being. Have fun in high school and enjoy the rest of the years you have left!

Q: Any teachers/staff who stood out throughout your journey?

Glickert: I think Ms. Pichardo, Ms. Rodriguez, and Ms. Jones were all exceptional teachers. Their classes were extremely difficult but fun at the same time. They have taught me so much about, not only the subject they taught, but also all about life.

Loaiza: I would like recognize two of my most influential teachers, Ms. Pichardo and Ms. Rodriguez. It’s sometimes difficult to find teachers that genuinely enjoy their profession. However, it’s very easy to see that Ms. Pichardo and Ms. Rodriguez have a passion for teaching, making our learning experience more enjoyable and effective.

Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Glickert: I see myself working as an environmental lawyer either with a big company or for the state. I do not know if I will stay in New York or move away. I hope to be married too and with kids by then.

Loaiza: Ten years from now, I aspire to be working for an organization that promotes the well-being of others by working directly with the community. Upon researching various careers, I have found that working at the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) would fulfill my desire of helping communities on a national and international level. OCHA coordinates the global emergency response to save lives and protect people in humanitarian crises. I sympathize with many of OCHA’s beliefs convincing me that working for the United Nations would be an amazing experience.

Q: Tell us a fun fact about you.

Glickert: A fun fact about me is that I have a strong faith in Jesus and this faith is the most important thing about me. I could not have accomplished anything in my life without Him. He gave me the brain to be valedictorian. He gave me the skills to perform well in sports. I thank Him for everything.

Loaiza: I’ve always had a passion for foreign languages. I am already fluent in Spanish, but I would love to learn French, Portuguese, Mandarin and Arabic.

Image via Peekskill school district