Huntington Senior Annika Galvin Carves an Enjoyable Path

Annika Galvin has carved out an enjoyable path for herself at Huntington High School, where the multi-talented senior has been excelling across the board. A willingness to challenge herself and seek out new adventures has served the teenager well as she makes plans for an exciting future.

Ms. Galvin has used her time wisely over the past four years, discerning her interests, exploring a wide variety of courses and developing many fruitful relationships with high school faculty members, including art teacher Kristin Singer and English teacher Dianna Cazzalino.

“Ms. Singer has made a huge impact on me,” Ms. Galvin said. “I’ve been in her art class for four years and now as her intern. I think I’ve learned both incredible technical art skills from her as well as lessons about everyday life. She’s the sweetest person I know. I believe that in the future, whenever I touch pen to paper, I will think about her and how she has helped my artistic path.”

The teenager’s literary interests have also been well served at the high school. “Ms. Cazzalino is also a teacher who I will always remember, both for her amazing personality and way of teaching,” Ms. Galvin said. “Honest and down to earth, I’ve known her all four years of my high school career. Writing club, AP English classes, anything; she’s there for all of it.”

The senior earns top grades and she is aiming high for college. “I’ve put in an early decision application to Smith College and my next top choice is UVM (University of Vermont),” Ms. Galvin said. “I’m intending to do a double major in studio art and environmental studies. My dream job would be a storyboard or concept artist for Lucasfilm or just an illustrator. Besides that, since the field is very competitive, I would love to work as a conservationist or help the fight against climate change and do art on the side.”

Ms. Galvin has a great sense of who she is, what she likes and where she wants to go. “I am the classic artsy high school archetype and I happily embody both the looks and ideas that go hand in hand with it,” she said. “There are always doodles on my paper and paint on my hands. I think very deeply about the world around me and how I interact with everything and everyone, which makes me endlessly ponder how other people perceive me. I have strong opinions and a vibrant personality where I’d like to think I’m funny even when people don’t always laugh at my jokes.”

President of the drama club’s stage crew and vice president of Huntington’s French Honor Society chapter, Ms. Galvin is also secretary of Et Cetera, the high school’s literary magazine club.

A member of the National Honor Society, Art Honor Society and Social Studies Honor Society, the teenager also participates in the women’s empowerment and environmental clubs. She is engaged in a credit bearing internship with veteran art teacher Kristin Singer and has been working with Drawing and Painting I and II students.

Huntington High School has provided Ms. Galvin with quite a memorable experience that will remain with the teenager throughout her life.

“It has changed me in many ways,” Ms. Galvin said. “Good or bad, this experience at Huntington is something I will always look back on fondly. I have met my best friends and created amazing memories and have become an educated young adult that makes my mom and dad happy.”

The senior is taking classes in Advanced Placement Research, AP Environmental Science, AP Drawing, AP Government and Politics, AP French and Introduction to Statistics. Ms. Galvin is especially enjoying AP Government and Politics and AP Research “despite the workload,” she said.

The teenager is always ready for an adventure. “I love traveling,” Ms. Galvin said. “Apart from visiting my family, most of whom live overseas, I have a love for adventure. I took a cross country road trip a little over a year ago with my dad that took a bit over a month. Next summer summer, my friend and I are planning to do a little bit of backpacking in France before college starts.”

Where does the senior see herself in 10 years? “I would be nearly 28 years old,” Ms. Galvin said. “My hope is that I’m sitting in a comfy little window chair, drinking tea with a book open, staring out the window at a cozy little town in coastal Maine. Across the warmly lit and colorful room is the entrance to my art studio. I do commissions on the side of my job as a conservationist and part time concept artist. I just published my second collection of poems. I have a love and a need to create and put beauty into the world. I also hope I have a cute cat curled up in my lap.”