Matt Curley's Incredible Experience
Matt Curley is a thoroughly likeable fellow. He has a wry sense of humor, a sharp intellect and the kind of qualities just about anyone would want in a friend. The Huntington High School senior is popular with his classmates and one of the top members of the Class of 2011.
Mr. Curley plans to major in mathematics at Loyola University Maryland, where he landed a scholarship worth $34,350. "Loyola wasn't even on my 'top five' list of colleges," he recalled. "I actually told people I was going to James Madison until I saw how much money Loyola was giving me. Once I visited it I knew that that was where I wanted to spend the next four years of my life."
Ironically, a few weeks after Mr. Curley settled on his decision, his closet friend and fellow senior Alexa Giammarino decided to attend Loyola, too. "She and I have known each other since we were about four years old and when she told me we would be going to the same school for the next four years I was overwhelmed with joy since we have almost a brother-sister relationship," Mr. Curley said.
Ms. Giammarino had been weighing schools in New York City and Boston when Loyola offered a generous financial package. Her fate was sealed after a short visit to the campus.
"I think the best thing about us going to school together is that we will look out for each other and she is also someone that I can tell anything to," Mr. Curley said about his trusted friend. "In college I know sometimes I'm going to be stressed, or have problems and it's nice to know that she will be a walk away to talk to."
At Huntington, Mr. Curley played on the varsity soccer team as a junior before switching to football as a senior and becoming an extraordinary kicker for the Blue Devils. He was named MVP of the special teams unit. He also earned two varsity letters in baseball, serving as captain his senior year. He's a member of the English honor society and Natural Helpers and participated in the Huntington Interfaith Homeless Initiative in each of the past two years.
Mr. Curley's plans at Loyola include playing club baseball. Since he's always loved to sing he intends to join the acapella group on campus.
"The best way to describe my last four years at Huntington High School is incredible," Mr. Curley said. "They say time flies when you're having fun and I believe that's why my four years have gone by so fast. My friends and family have been really supportive in everything that I have done and I firmly believe that I am where I am today because of them. Their influence on my life has been tremendous and I can't thank them enough."
Does Mr. Curley have a favorite teacher? That would be Michael Graziano, the senior's freshman year math teacher. "He had such a remarkable impact on my life, which is why I chose to wrote my main college essay about him," the teenager said. "He has influenced me enough to make me want to become a math teacher just like him. I have kept such a close relationship with him throughout these past four years and
became his intern this year."
Mr. Curley has also been close to school dean Robert Gilmor, or "Gil" as the senior calls him. "He has always been someone that I could talk to whenever needed," he said.
Two other key staffers in the teenager's life have been college counselor Bernadette Walsh and college office secretary Linda Abner. "People don't realize how much they do in the college office and how fortunate we are to have them in our lives," Mr. Curley said. "If it wasn't for them I honestly don't think I could have gone through the college application process. I can't thank them enough for the help and guidance they gave me."
Mr. Curley's most memorable high school experiences center on the Blue Devil sports program. After playing soccer for most of his life, he transitioned to football last fall. He'll always cherish the experience of kicking for Huntington. One special moment came when he kicked a game-winning field goal against Eastport-South Manor despite stiff winds with about 30 seconds remaining on the clock.
"The feeling I got when I kicked the ball through those posts was inexpressible," Mr. Curley said. "People don't realize how close-knit the football team is until you have been a part of it. I thought that because I was 'just the kicker' that I would be treated poorly, but they really took me in and helped give me an experience I will never forget. We were like one big family and I can't thank those kids enough for every memory they gave me on the field."
Huntington baseball's Senior Day also produced a lasting memory. "I went up in the bottom of the sixth inning and I knew that it was going to be my final at-bat since we
were losing," Mr. Curley said. "Before I went up I told [teammate] Rob Fiato 'You know this is probably going to be the last at-bat of my high school career.' He said to me 'Well just make the most of it.'" The senior did just that.
On a 3-2 count, Mr. Curley crushed a long homerun to deep leftfield. "Rounding the bases was a pretty cool feeling, but knowing that that was the last swing of my days in a Blue Devil uniform was kind of surreal," he recalled.
This year has been special in so many ways for Mr. Curley. He credits his best friend and classmate, Michael Valente as "the person who has helped me out most my senior year." Mr. Valente is headed to Syracuse University to study digital and broadcast journalism. "Ask anyone about our friendship and they will tell you we are probably the
weirdest people in the school," the teenager said laughing.
The two friends wanted to read out the morning announcements over the school's public address system so the duo started what they dubbed "Mike and Matt In The Morning."
"We did that a couple times this school year and that was something funny that describes us," Mr. Curley said. "We kind of come in a package on the weekend; People usually invite me if they are inviting Mike and vice-a-versa. It's a very unique friendship that I'm glad we've established this year."
Mr. Curley has some advice for incoming freshmen: "Make the most out of every day because it goes by so fast," he said. "Don't be afraid to take on challenges and try new things because these are four years you are never going to get back. Try to leave high school with no regrets."
This is a time for reflection for many seniors and Mr. Curley is no different from his classmates. "Overall, my experiences in the district have been nothing but positive," he said. "This district has opened so many doors and opportunities for me to help me develop into who I am today."