Alison Gooding wants to help people and she’s chosen the field of nursing to do it. The Huntington High School Class of 2020 member will begin pursuit of her career goals at LIU Post, which awarded the teenager a generous scholarship.
“LIU post has everything I was looking for in a college,” Ms. Gooding said. “I’ve known for a while that I have wanted to go into the medical field and study nursing and LIU has a relatively new four year nursing program that I was very impressed by. I was awarded a $31,000 academic scholarship, which played a big role in my decision making process.”
Class of 2020 senior Alison Gooding
Ms. Gooding gave the college application process the serious consideration it deserves. “When applying to colleges initially, I decided I wanted to attend a school located on Long Island and commute, so LIU was a perfect fit for me since it’s only a 15 minute drive from where I live,” she said. “As of now I plan to graduate with my BSN ( Bachelor of Science degree in nursing) in four years and start working as a registered nurse after graduation. After gaining some experience working as an RN, there is also a possibility I might return to school to become a nurse practitioner.”
Ms. Gooding is a great student and she used her time wisely these past four years. “I definitely feel prepared for the challenges of college that await me and I think Huntington has played a huge part in preparing me for my next step in my education,” she said. “Some of my favorite courses have been Living Environment Honors, Science Research and Forensics. Living Environment specifically had a big impact on my career choice. I knew I was interested in entering the medical field after taking the class with Mr. [Joseph] Cohen in freshman year. It was the first science class that really sparked my interest. I especially loved learning about human anatomy.”
For most of the past two years Ms. Gooding has been working part-time several days a week after school. As senior she worked three days a week from 3-9 p.m. as a hostess at Samurai in the village. “Although I have had to sacrifice being very involved in clubs at the school, working part-time while also managing school has taught me a lot about responsibility and I think that experience has definitely helped prepare me for college.”
Ms. Gooding’s advice for incoming freshmen? “Keep an open mind about future career paths and don’t stress if you’re unsure about what you want to do when you grow up,” she said. “There are so many electives and courses available at Huntington. Taking Living Environment and Forensics really helped me discover what I’m interested in. Try different electives and see which one interests you. Also, as much as school work is important, make sure to have a balance! Don’t be too consumed in getting the perfect grade. Do your best and have fun!”
Teacher Patricia Anson has mentored the teenager throughout high school and was especially helpful during Ms. Gooding’s freshman and sophomore years.
Mrs. Anson helped Ms. Gooding “figure out” high school and develop a strong work ethic. “Mrs. Anson was always there to keep me in check and to help me with anything I needed,” the teenager said. “Even in my junior and senior year, despite the fact she wasn’t my teacher, she would always check up on me to see how I was doing.”
This is a very exciting time in Ms. Gooding’s life as she makes the transition from high school to college. She considers herself fortunate to have landed such a generous scholarship and to be able to study for her chosen career so close to home.
“Overall, I’ve had a very positive experience at Huntington,” Ms. Gooding said. “I’ve had some amazing and supportive teachers who have really prepared me for college. I’ve made great memories throughout my four years and I’m going to miss all the friends I’ve made along the way. I will always be grateful for my experience at Huntington.”
