Senior Brenda Jandres-Benitez Chooses Molloy University

Brenda Jandres-Benitez is all about helping people; making the world a better place for everyone to enjoy life and prosper. The Huntington senior plans to attend Molloy University in Rockville Centre and study for a career in nursing.

“Molloy is not far from home, which I know my parents would have freaked if I left for New York City or out of state,” Ms. Jandres-Benitez said. “What attracted me to Molloy was its nursing program and how they start clinicals during the sophomore year. You can also get interviewed by a hospital as a sophomore so you are hooked up with a job midway through your studies.”

While the teenager is settled on an academic major, she is still open to pursuing a minor in a different career field, “but I am not sure yet,” she said.

The COVID-19 pandemic substantially altered Ms. Jandres-Benitez’s high school experience, but she still managed to retain her enthusiasm and optimism.

The senior engaged in a credit bearing internship/mentorship with social studies teacher Sarah Buchalter and a Global History ENL class. Ms. Jandres-Benitez said the experience was one of the highlights of her high school years, “because I was able to help out kids who are learning English as a new language, like I did growing up.”

While a pandemic free world would have produced a very different four year experience for Ms. Jandres-Benitez, she is only looking ahead at this point.

“COVID made for an epic turn for our Class of 2023, but I believe that even though we had our lows, we made them positive,” the teenager said. “I did track my sophomore year and I enjoyed it. I’ve been a yearbook club member since freshmen year helping out Mrs. [Elizabeth] Casazza. I joined the Spanish Honor Society at the end of my junior year. I am in the New World Club and act as a class mentor.”

Ms. Jandres-Benitez was inducted into the National Technical Honor Society at Wilson Tech as a junior. Last March she participated in the Angelo Del Toro Puerto Rican/Hispanic Youth Leadership Institute in Albany.

In April, the senior vied in the SkillsUSA contest in Syracuse. It drew top high school students enrolled in training programs in trade, technical and skilled service occupations, including health areas. “I won the local competition for photography, but at states, I only participated,” Ms. Jandres-Benitez said.

Named a Distinguished Senior, Ms. Jandres-Benitez has earned an academic average of at least 90 during every semester of high school.

The senior is excited about moving on to Molloy University and beginning the next chapter in her life.