Sleepy Hollow Salutatorian To Study International Relations

SLEEPY HOLLOW, NY — This year's salutatorian for the Sleepy Hollow High School Class of 2018 is Daniel Livingston. Patch asked Livingston to answer a few questions about his high school experience and what he looks forward to in the future.

1. What will you miss most about high school?

I will definitely miss my friends most. I have been extremely lucky to find and become close with truly amazing people, and are lucky to call them my friends. I will also miss Sleepy Hollow as a village! I really don’t think there is a better place to grow up, from having beautiful parks and beaches a block away from my house, to strong sports programs, to being so close to NYC.

2. What are you looking forward to in moving on to college?

I am really excited to start learning about topics that I am most interested in. While in high school I did enjoy being able to learn about a broad range of subjects. I look forward to specializing and getting more in depth in what I plan to study (sustainability and international relations).

3. What was your favorite high school class?

My favorite school subjects are AP Environmental Science and AP Government and Politics. Both of these courses rely heavily on current events and real world problems that need solving. Environmental science is so interesting to me because it encompasses so much of what I do every day, from drinking water to taking out the trash. Additionally, I believe it is critical to learn as much as I can about sustainability, considering it is already extremely important and will only continue to be more so. I enjoy Government and Politics because by studying the government and the current political climate, I become more engaged in national and world events. It is important for me to stay knowledgeable and advocate for the issues I care about. Learning about how the government operates helps me accomplish those goals.

4. What clubs or extracurriculars were you involved in?

Hoofprints: One of my favorite activities in high school has been writing for my school newspaper. I’ve always been interested in media and its inherent power. I joined the newspaper first as a staff writer, then climbing to junior editor. I later earned the position of editor-in-chief. Other than running the daily functions of the newspaper, I have led the charge to completely digitize it as well. I petitioned, fundraised, researched and designed the website for the school newspaper. The website has allowed us to streamline operations and become more efficient.

Orchestra: I’ve played the viola since fourth grade. In high school, I took leadership positions in orchestra by joining the advanced quintet. I also am a member of chamber orchestra. Learning to play an instrument has given me a completely different experience in my daily schedule. Being part of an orchestra is fun for me because it is bigger than just any person, as everyone's voice matters equally. In addition, I’ve played in the pit orchestra for the musical each year.

Model UN: Another club that I participate in is Model United Nations. This club has helped me further skills of debate and persuasion. I took a leadership position in this club (vice president) and have organized many fundraisers and events related to global events. In Model UN, we participate in many challenging and exciting conferences throughout the year. I am faced with discussions of contentious topics with complete strangers. Quick thinking is necessary.

Social Studies Honor Society: I was chosen to be the president of SSHS. The amount of work I have completed has already taken up a significant portion of my time. I manage about five quarterly projects that the SSHS runs. I've found that the most difficult part of running the club is motivating members to participate. To counter this, I have encouraged exciting and interesting projects that members will feel connected to. Just a few project examples I have run are a Geography Bee for the entire sixth grade, a guide to the 2017 state and county midterm elections for the community, tutoring for the NYS Regents Exams and voter registration drives.

Sports: I play two varsity sports: cross country and tennis. I enjoy tennis because it gives the option for individuality while being part of a team. I was captain of the tennis team last year and will again be captain this year. While I am not an excellent runner, I still participate in cross country. Honestly, I consistently place in the last 10 spots of races; however, I never walk and always try to PR. Cross country strengthens my mental and physical power.

5. What advice would you give to underclassmen?

I would tell underclassmen to make sure that they look to find the fun in whatever they do. Throughout my classes, I made sure always to keep an optimistic attitude and look for places to make class more fun and exciting, whether it be through simple witty comments and jokes or suggestions for content. Also be spontaneous and try to not plan out your entire life.

6. Any teachers/staff who stood out throughout your journey?

A few: My environmental science teacher, Ms. Adamo and my science research advisor: Ms. Longo-Abinanti

7. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

In 10 years, whatever job or place I am living in, I hope to be continually learning. I wish to be in a position where I can be both financially stable and happy with the work I am doing. My goal is to become a foreign service worker in the U.S. State Department and contribute towards a safer, more interconnected global society. The main reason that I want to be a foreign service worker is because I am extremely into current events and the politics of globalization. I think at a time when the future of a globalized society is increasingly being challenged by waves of populism and nationalism alike, there is a need for well-educated, responsible and steady hands to guide our world to peace and prosperity.

8. Tell us a fun fact about you.

I am a really good cook — I am the person in my family who makes dinner — and I make use of my creativity to create great tasting and visually appealing dishes. I try not to repeat the same dish in the same month and also experiment with as many different foods as possible.

Random fun facts — favorite ice cream: Häagen-Dazs java chip. I work as a Lifeguard at PMBC. I have an internship at the Economist newspaper this summer.

Photo caption: Daniel Livingston. Photo credit: Submitted.