Name: Michelle Tomassi
Age: 18
School: Yorktown High School
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Accomplishment: Valedictorian of Yorktown High School Class of 2011
Key to Awesomeness:
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When 316 seniors of YHS graduate in June, the valedictory will be delivered by Michelle Tomassi. While achieving the highest academic standing in the class, Tomassi has been committed to making a difference in the community.
Tomassi’s contributions include serving as an assistant teacher at St. Patrick's School religious education program and supporting local organizations, such as Support Connection.
A National Merit Scholarship Commended Student, Tomassi was a Yorktown High School team member in (a televised academic quiz show for high school students).
With whom did Tomassi first share her news about being named the valedictorian? Her puppy, she said.
To Yorktown Patch, Tomassi articulated about her perspectives and goals, and hypothetically meeting William Shakespeare.
Patch: What are the key elements behind your academic achievement?
Michelle Tomassi: My academic achievement is mostly self-motivated, as I am driven by the accomplishment I feel when I succeed academically. My dedication and work ethic are also part of my ability to succeed in school. For me, learning is not just about getting the best grades and the right answers; it’s about collaborating with others and ensuring that I understand the material. The support that my parents and teachers have given me also inspired me to work my hardest, and their encouragement is another integral element of my academic performance.
Patch: What advice would you give to YHS juniors?
MT: I encourage YHS juniors to keep working hard and stay strong through their last years of high school, because the end result will truly be worth it. Students who may not have worked to their fullest potential as freshmen and sophomores can still find the strength to give their best performance during their junior and senior years. Not only do colleges appreciate students who have progressed as individuals, but the self-satisfaction of challenging oneself is very rewarding.
Patch: What was a pointed college interview question about you, and how did you answer it?
MT: One of my interviewers asked me, “If you could meet with any three people, living, deceased, fictional, or real, who would you choose and why?” My first person was William Shakespeare, because he is one of the greatest poets and is truly a master of language and words. My second person was my grandmother, since she passed away when I was young and I would like to have the chance to know her better. Finally, I chose the character Jack Dawson from my favorite film, Titanic.
Patch: What are some objectives of your valedictory?
MT: In my speech, I plan to make a point of how wonderful our senior class is and how all of our individual strengths combine to make a very talented and unified group of students. I also hope to convey warmth and maybe even some light-hearted humor as we take the next step in our lives and plan for our futures. My main objective is to speak from my heart about our experiences in high school and how we have prepared ourselves for the journey ahead of us.
Patch: Please share about an extracurricular activity that you are committed to and would like to pursue at college.
MT: I have been involved in our school’s Key Club, our community service club, since my freshmen year, and this year I had the pleasure of being the club’s secretary. I love volunteering and meeting people in my community, and at college I hope to continue my volunteer work in some sort of community service club or organization. I also write for our school newspaper, The Voice, so at my school I plan to write for any of the student newspapers or literary magazines.
Patch: What are your college and career plans?
MT: I will be attending Boston College, and I will most likely major in English. I love reading and writing, so I plan to have a career that allows me to utilize these skills in a creative manner. I have considered careers in fields such as journalism and publishing.
Patch: What is an important life goal for you?
MT: An important life goal for me is ultimately to do what I’m passionate about, regardless of whether it’s considered a “good job” or pays a lot of money. My personal philosophy is that life’s too short to do anything other than what you love, so I hope to follow this idea and find a place that I feel comfortable in without compromising who I am as an individual.
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Nominations for Yorktown Patch’s Whiz Kids can be submitted to Plamena Pesheva plamena@patch.com and Christine An christinean.patch@gmail.com
