Senior Peter Gaal Chooses University at Buffalo

Peter Gaal isn’t a typical teenager. He likes to work under the pressure of a deadline. He believes he does his best work in the midst of such difficult conditions. The Huntington High School senior is headed to the University at Buffalo to pursue a degree in biomedical sciences.

“Buffalo, to me, kind of feels like a diamond in the rough,” Mr. Gaal said. “It checks all of the boxes. I knew I wanted to go to the best school I could. With all factors considered, Buffalo is exactly that; most importantly, the science programs at Buffalo. The tier one research university status the school touts spoke to me. After taking Science Research for the past four years, I knew I had to continue my pursuits in scientific research in college. At Buffalo, I will be able to do that to the highest capacity and I couldn’t be any more excited.”

The Huntington senior intends to study biomedical sciences at Buffalo. “Inspired by my mother who had a tumor develop in her head, it has been my lifelong dream, since around the age of seven to become a neurosurgeon,” Mr. Gaal said. “When I was seven, I was brought to the hospital around the time my mother was having the surgery to remove the tumor. I remember the feeling to this day. The energy in that hospital was just so unique. Somehow, as a child, I was able to grasp that I was in an environment where people’s lives were being saved all around me. Being aware of that and that my mother was among those people, locked me in. Since then I have known that this is what I want to do. That feeling was also reinforced, in my freshman year, before the COVID-19 pandemic. I had the opportunity of being a junior volunteer at Huntington Hospital. That same exact feeling I got when I was seven was present once more during my time volunteering. That completely reinforced that this is the thing I know I want to do. Knowing that Buffalo is capable of leading me down the path I desire makes me extremely excited for the future and very happy with the choice I made.”

Mr. Gaal’s academic major allows him to begin taking medical school classes as a sophomore. “As someone who has been interested in a career in medicine since age seven, that sounds like a dream,” he said. “Since the school is a part of the SUNY system, I have the invaluable opportunity of receiving a top tier education at an affordable price. Buffalo, also being regarded as the flagship of the SUNY system, has already instilled a sense of school pride in me, and I’m not even attending yet.”

The distance between Huntington and Buffalo also played a role in Mr. Gaal’s decision to attend the upstate college. “I knew I wanted to go far, but I also love New York,” he said. “That’s another box Buffalo checks. I also know I would not be able to tolerate the heat in college since I also love the winter. At Buffalo, both of those things will be to my liking. It is most definitely the perfect school for me. I also get to say that I’m going to college with my lifelong friend since kindergarten, Liam Tucker. That is pretty nice.”

The teenager noted that he has spent the majority of his life as a Huntington UFSD student. “There have been plenty of things I consider highlights,” Mr. Gaal said. “The very first thing that comes to mind is actually very recent; my presentation for the Seal of Biliteracy. As someone who has completed the dual language program and has received education in Spanish during every single year enrolled as a student in Huntington, it is probably easy to understand that Spanish is something I love. Presenting for the Seal of Biliteracy and eventually receiving it, symbolized to me, the culmination of all of my Spanish education. I loved that. All of the teachers involved in giving me such a good education really deserve an enormous thank you. Especially Sra. [Elizabeth] Casazza. I’ve had her in three of my four years at Huntington High School. She has been the major contributor to developing my ability to speak the language and my love for the Spanish-speaking cultures of the world.”

All things science has also produced a lengthy list of highlights throughout Mr. Gaal’s high school experience. “The Science Research course has been my favorite class every single year and I’ve been taking it since freshman year,” Mr. Gaal said. “Mrs. [Lori] Kenny has been so helpful with absolutely everything. There has never been a teacher who I’ve been able to appreciate like Mrs. Kenny. Like Spanish, another major highlight also comes from this year. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the competitions that the science research students participate in have been virtual for the past three years. However, this year, I got to go to an actual real life competition with one of my best friends. That was such an enjoyable experience. I wish I got to do that the other three years. Seeing all of the other people present their research was so incredible.”

President of the high school’s Science Honor Society chapter, Mr. Gaal earned the designated of Distinguished Senior following four years of academic excellence.

“I cannot speak about highlights in Huntington UFSD without mentioning my time on the fencing team,” Mr. Gaal said. “However, the highlight was most definitely winning the gold medal with the boys’ foil at the Alan Kuver Memorial Relay. The entire gym was watching; we were fencing Centereach, which also has a very good foil squad and we came out with a victory. I don’t think I will ever experience a feeling like that ever again in my life. We also ended the season as league champions. I love that team and I urge anyone with the slightest interest in fencing to give it a chance. Coach [Michelle] O’Brien and Coach [Vin] O’Garra are two excellent coaches that have an intense love for the sport and their players.”

Articulate and well-informed, Mr. Gaal is capable of improving any organization with his insights and suggestions. He qualifies as a deep thinker and he can back up his opinions.

“All things considered, the highs and lows, I could not be any happier with my time in Huntington,” Mr. Gaal said. “I have learned so much and experienced so many different things here. I truly and honestly would not change a single thing. I feel like both the good and the bad have contributed to who I am today. Huntington has provided me with so many excellent friends; they know who they are. I appreciate you all. I love who I have become and I have to thank Huntington for its contribution to that. I am a Blue Devil through and through. I’ll stay that way forever.”