Sophia Severine is in the midst of an unforgettable experience at Huntington High School where she is a member of the Class of 2021. She’s a high-powered, dynamic young woman who has excelled in a variety of areas in and out of the classroom.
“I am interested in all my courses this year because I feel I have such a wide variety of classes, however I am most interested in Bible Literature and humanities with Mrs. [Kelly] Krycinski as well as Participation in Government with Mr. [Joseph] Leavy,” the teenager said.
Ms. Severine plans to once again suit up for the Blue Devil varsity volleyball team and also participate in the high school’s debate club.
“I feel I’ve created a friendship with so many different people these past four years, however my closest friends are Lexie Monti and Aidan Bender, who have been by my side all throughout high school,” Ms. Severine said.
“Sophia has been there for me,” Ms. Monti said. “She helped me through my toughest times. “She always looks out for her friends before herself. She just wants to make sure everyone is happy. She’s been my best friend for four years now and I couldn’t ask for a better friend.”
The senior has also drawn close to many faculty and staff members including Lorena Hickey, Matthew Ligouri, Catherine Croke, Gamal Smith and Todd Jamison “and many more who have mentored me and made my high school experience so great,” Ms. Severine said.
Teacher Michael Graziano has also been a standout during Ms. Severine’s time at the high school. “I connected with him right away,” she said. “I’ve never been a big fan of math, but I always loved going to his class because of his personality and even his style of teaching. He has definitely taught me that nothing is impossible and to never give up.”
Ms. Severine’s advice to incoming Huntington freshmen? “Definitely join clubs and sports teams because it’s such a great way to meet new students and even staff,” she said. “Don’t be afraid to take new courses. I’ve tried to branch out with choosing electives and I ended up loving classes that I thought I wouldn’t be interested in.”
The teenager’s friends respect and value her. “Sophia has been one of my ‘go-to’s’ since seventh grade,” Mr. Bender said. “No matter the time of day, she’s always there to help me with anything. She’s someone that always makes me laugh and will always be a good friend of mine.”
The senior said she is currently considering the University of Arizona, Arizona State University and Indiana University along with a handful of other schools. “I am hoping to study international business,” Ms. Severine said. “In my future career I hope to work in a business company that deals with clients all over the world.”
Ms. Severine is making the most of her senior year, even with the COVID-19 required changes to daily high school life and extracurricular activities. She is keeping a positive frame of mind and looking forward to the end of the pandemic.
“My experience at Huntington has definitely been one that I will never forget,” Ms. Severine said. One thing that stands out to me is the school spirit that everyone has; it brings everyone together at events such as sporting games, homecoming and even school dances. The environment and the staff have made school such a fun place to be and I will definitely miss it.”