NORTH SALEM, N.Y. - Congratulations to Valedictorian Christina Sfarra and Salutatorian Luke Dundon, two North Salem High School scholars whose hard work and dedication have earned them the highest honors for the Class of 2025.
As they prepare to embark on their next adventures, Christina and Luke offer advice to their younger selves, reflect on their educational journey, and contemplate what comes after graduation. With bright futures on the horizon, there's no doubt these outstanding Tigers will continue to roar!
What are your plans for next year?
Christina: I am heading off to Princeton University this fall, where I plan to major in Molecular Biology on a pre-med track. Currently, my dream is to later attend medical school and become a doctor, specifically a dermatologist.
Luke: I am attending the University of Virginia in the fall. I plan to apply to the McIntire School of Commerce and major in finance. I am so excited to experience the independence of college and meet different people from all over the world.
Who are the most influential people in your life?
Luke: The most influential people in my life are — you guessed it — my parents. I know that is probably the only answer ever given to this question, but that's the only possible answer for me. My mom. She has been my rock throughout my high school career. Whether it was proofreading my college essays or giving consoling hugs, she is my biggest supporter. My dad, he has provided for my family. I have been blessed with a great life, and he has played a big part in that. He is successful both in his career and as a family man, and is my biggest role model.
What advice would you give to your freshman self?
Christina: I would tell her to keep working hard to achieve her goals. Even though some goals seem too hard or sometimes impossible to achieve, you can literally achieve anything if you work hard enough; I am living proof of that! Truly, determination is always the most vital key to success.
Luke: Some practical advice I would give to my freshman self and to other aspiring underclassmen who want a college career is to focus a lot of energy into extracurriculars. Find something that you are passionate about and pursue it. That could mean joining clubs or, if there are no clubs related to your interest, creating one. There are also so many other organizations that aren't affiliated with North Salem High School that you can be a part of. My advice is to fully immerse yourself in whatever you do (e.g., taking a leadership position) and make a measurable impact.
What are you looking forward to after high school?
Christina: What I am looking forward to most after high school is exploring new ideas, joining clubs, and building my own community that not only shares similar interests but also has many different perspectives and values. I am also so excited to dive deeper into subjects I am passionate about and begin to build the future that I have always dreamed of.
Luke: I am most looking forward to taking classes that are more targeted toward the career I am pursuing. One of the things I don't love about high school is that most classes just aren't very specific. However, in college, I will be able to take more specialized classes. I aspire to be an investment banker later in life, and taking classes like Foundations of Finance Financial Accounting at UVA are applicable to what I want to do. Also, coming from a class of about 60 kids, I am eager to meet new people. Although being with such a tight-knit group of kids has its benefits, I am excited for the shift to a school with almost twenty thousand students.
What is something from your time at North Salem schools that you will carry with you into the future?
Christina: I learned that staying true to my values and goals is immensely more important than constantly fitting in. It is not only important to set goals; you must also stay motivated to achieve them, even if that makes you different from others around you. By staying true to myself in the future, I can not only achieve the goals I am so passionate about, but I can also remain authentically myself in a world of change.
Article courtesy of North Salem Central School District.
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