Shayne Larkin's on a Great Run
Shayne Larkin defies definition. She can be deadly serious one minute and laughing and joking the next. She can be both zany and highly intellectual during the same conversation. The Huntington High School senior is regarded as one of the most easy-going and pleasant members of the Class of 2011.
She's having a great time this year and is participating in a wide array of activities. Ms. Larkin said that when it comes to the high school community, she's "stoked to be a part of it.
The Blue Devil marching band has been a big part of Ms. Larkin's life this fall. She has enjoyed working with a huge influx of freshmen who "brought so much enthusiasm with them," the senior said. "I was lucky enough to be a section leader for the bunch! I like to believe I contributed to the influx of pride and unity within the program. Nothing was more fulfilling than having a leadership role for my musical section, the front ensemble, also known as 'The Pit.' In all my years in the band, there has never been such an explosive - in a good way - chemistry among the Pit's members. I'll never forget it."
Endorphin Junkie
Another favorite activity is the Blue Devil crew team. Calling herself a "proud member," Ms. Larkin said "it totally beats other sports in terms of scenery. There's nothing like rowing into the sunset on Huntington Harbor after a day of academia. It's very therapeutic."
Last year she was one of the captains of the varsity girls' rowing team and hopes to reprise the role again next spring. Ms. Larkin said the sport has turned her into an "endorphin junkie" as a result of the demanding training program. "I have a six-mile route that I run daily," she said. "Many people stop me in the hallways claiming they saw me fly in front of their vehicle or down their street."
She has been a much-sought after model for Huntington High School's student-photographers and has pulled off a variety of themed shoots looking like a real professional.
Driving Force for Environmental Club
Ms. Larkin was the driving force behind the creation of the high school's environmental club this year. She spoke with Principal Carmela Leonardi, who "encouraged me to make fliers and find a teacher adviser," the teenager said. "Mr. [Craig] McKee, an Earth Science teacher and former park ranger, advises the group and I couldn't have made a better choice asking him. He's extremely knowledgeable, and has already done so much for the club."
The environmental club kicked-off a white paper recycling program last week. Club members will be coming to school early Friday mornings to collect the white paper. It will be picked up later in the day for recycling. "I never thought I'd be so excited to dig through garbage pails at 7 a.m.," Ms. Larkin said.
She's been her class's recording secretary for the past three years. She enjoys participating in the student government and finds it "great because it provides an outlet for students to get the ball rolling on things they'd like to see occur in the school community."
Ms. Larkin is not afraid to raise her voice. Last year she prodded her class to initiate a fundraiser for the victims of an earthquake in Haiti. "Bracelets for Haiti" were sold for a few dollars and the proceeds were donated to the American Red Cross for its relief efforts.
"I've learned so much about myself through the classes I've taken at Huntington," Ms. Larkin said. "I had fantastic teachers who contributed to my enthusiasm towards certain subjects. I never would have thought that I'd want to be a history buff until I met Ms. [Deborra] Melon and Mr. [James] Graber. Or that I'd want to spend more than two periods in Mrs. [Deborah] Beck's biology classroom, or 45 minutes analyzing "The Scarlet Letter" in Mrs. [Aimee] Antorino's English class."
Possible Legal Career
Looking toward the future, the senior said she is considering a career as a lawyer for environmental causes. "I want to defend the defenseless," Ms. Larkin said. "Because of this, my mother believes I will probably end up digging in garbage cans again some day. Maybe she's right, but Lord knows I'm going to shoot for my dreams anyway."
The teenager is hoping to go to the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and be a member of the legendary Minute Man marching band there. "I applied a few weeks ago, so my fingers are tightly crossed," she said.
As graduation day nears, the senior is pleased with how the past four years have unfolded. "In truth, I've never met a teacher at Huntington High School who I did not like," Ms. Larkin said. "It's been a great run."