Chloe Northrop Graduates Early to Attend College in Paris

There’s simply no stopping Chloe Northrop when she sets her mind to something. The Huntington High School Class of 2023 member graduated a full year early.. She plans to pursue a degree at The American University of Paris and study environmental science.

“I chose to apply to The American University of Paris after traveling there for spring break of 2022,” Ms. Northrop said. “I was blown away by the beauty of the city, the culture, the language, the food - everything. I knew that although I didn’t know much French, I had a drive to prolong my education. Therefore, I figured investing in my education while also investing in a future life in Europe, or even working on a more worldwide scale would definitely be worth it. The American University of Paris stuck out to me because it is a private liberal arts school with a greatly in-depth environmental science program and it has students from all over the world, which provides me with the ability to gain a more worldly perspective of the Earth and how it works.”

Ms. Northrop chose to study environmental science after working on a farm for two years. “ELIJA Farm is a private educational farm that teaches life skills to students with developmental disabilities,” she explained. “I was able to not only work the fields, but also educate and work one-on-one with students. It was perfect for I was able to work in a natural sanctuary, while also being able to give back to the planet and people who were in need. I knew from then on that I either wanted to go into education or environmental sciences.”

The teenager was recognized as a Distinguished Senior last spring after compiling an outstanding academic record. She credits her success to perseverance and resilience. She’s overcome many personal challenges that have helped shape her into the person she is today.

“I chose to graduate early because I had always excelled academically and knew I wanted to get something more out of my life,” Ms. Northrop said. “I felt as though I was mature enough to move on from high school and also had connected more so with the upperclassmen throughout my earlier years anyway. I discussed my situation with my guidance counselor and she said I was able to proceed with my plan as long as I could prove I had plans in place for my year of absence. Until I leave for Paris in January of 2024, I will be working to save money for my travels as well as personally studying French.”

Ms. Northrop graduated with an Advanced Regents Diploma. “The highlight of my time in Huntington were certainly my experiences in sixth grade at STEM and my senior year at Huntington High,” she said. “Both years I felt as though I greatly connected with my teachers and my peers. In sixth grade, I had Ms. [Jenny] Finnegan, who was always supportive in everything I did and helped me through a significant time in my life. STEM overall was a blast; it felt like family. I didn’t feel that way again until senior year, having gone through the pandemic. Senior year, I had connected with many of my teachers; Ms. [Nicole’ Cooper, Mrs. [Kelly] Krycinski, Mr. [Kenneth] Donovan and more, as well as connecting with my peers and the content of the classes I was taking. I had taken AP Environmental Science senior year and was enthralled by its content and its connection to our day-to-day life, which also encouraged me to follow through with it as my major.”

Ms. Northrop graduated in June with many memories gathered over the years. “My time in Huntington had many ups and downs,” she acknowledged. “But overall, I was always able to find support and positivity in the students and staff of the school. I thank each of them for encouraging me to proceed on my journey; whether that be graduating early or studying abroad. All of them played a role in teaching me how to manage the anxieties that may come to be and to always pursue your passions.”