Lakeland High School Salutatorian: Start Planning

SHRUB OAK, 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.

Today, meet Timothy Callery, salutatorian from Lakeland High School.

What will you miss most about high school?

I will probably miss the teachers the most since they were so helpful and you really got a chance to get to know them during the year. They always learned your name and cared about your success, joked around with us often, and cared about our growth as learners.

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

I'm definitely looking forward to living on my own for the first time in my life, meeting new people, getting involved in certain clubs and service organizations, and also mostly studying what I love, economics, instead of having to go to classes of subjects I don't really care for.

What was your favorite high school class?

My favorite high school class was probably AP Macroeconomics because I had always been interested in economic policy, but learning AP Macro really pushed me over the edge and got me enthusiastic for economics and its more practical real-world partner, business. My teacher Mr. Schaper was also a really funny and engaging guy who cared and appreciated my love for the subject and even sat down with me after class to talk about a paper I had given him from another class about free trade.

What clubs or extracurriculars were you involved in?

I was involved with Boy Scouts, since the age of six (Troop 174 since the age of 11), and I got my Eagle Scout in December of last year. My project was building a standing book exchange outside my local library. I was also involved on the Lakeland District Debate Team in all four years of high school, National Honor Society (senior year), Spanish Honor Society (junior + senior), and I was also in the school's Orchestra where I played the bass (since 5th grade).

What advice would you give to underclassmen?

Start thinking about careers and what you want to major in the minute you step through the high school doors. Even if you keep switching, that's better than not thinking at all. I went from wanting to do history, to political science, to economics, and now to economics and business. Know what you're interested in. Another piece of advice is not to join five rinky-dink clubs your junior year for college applications. Start doing extra-curriculars Freshman year and stay committed to two or three important things. Start some before high school if possible. One last piece of advice is to begin planning for college visits sophomore year, and be very on top of your application process beginning in June of your junior year. Do EVERYTHING as early as possible, but don't freak out about SAT's and ACT's. Get books to review, but classes or taking the test four times are completely unnecessary things to do.

Any teachers/staff who stood out throughout your journey?

Mr. Schaper as I said above was a great teacher my senior year, and he truly cared about my passion for economics. Mr. Merriam my AP US History teacher was also an amazing teacher. He was funny without being too goofy, but he also was very competent and did a great job preparing us for the AP. Like Mr. Schaper, he also greatly appreciated my interest in the subject and even hosted a political club that I ran for a few months at the end of junior year and early during senior year. My AP World History teacher Mr. Trucillo was another teacher who also cared about my development outside the classroom. After his class was over sophomore year, he even sent me some books that he reccomended I should read that he's read since he couldn't give them to me in person. I will never forget his passion for what he taught or how much he truly cared about my ambition. All three of these men are teachers that I will NEVER forget.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I hope to either be starting a career as an economist/consultant for a major company or firm, or to be beginning a career as an economic policy analyst at a think tank, whether in Washington D.C., or through a university.

Tell us a fun fact about you.

My love of history and the humanities began at a very young age, when I was in third grade, and I'm a major Civil War History Buff. I struggle often to find others who know or love studying the Civil War as much as I do. I even led and narrarated my troop's tour around Gettysburg myself when we went on a hike around the whole battlefield, instead of paying for a tour guide.

PHOTO courtesy Timothy Callery