Julia Dolan was declared as the Newtown High College Course of 2021’s valedictorian and Sarah Nowacki as the salutatorian, at the faculty on Could 5. Both equally just lately mirrored on their educational encounters in cellphone interviews with The Newtown Bee.

“I’ve been right here the whole time,” Julia said, incorporating that she attended Head O’ Meadow Elementary University.

She remembers crying the night before attending kindergarten for the initial time.

“I didn’t want to go. I assume I was concerned of leaving house,” reported Julia.

The valedictorian is no extended fearful to leave home, but there are issues she will overlook when she heads to Cambridge in the slide to examine economics at Harvard College. She is also thrilled to be close to Boston.

“It’s just actually stunning,” reported Julia, who is also contemplating of studying finance at Harvard.

She is drawn to studying humanities and math, and attending Harvard “felt like maintaining my alternatives open up,” as it has a lot of assets and presents its pupils an array of opportunities along with “a terrific alumni community,” mentioned Julia.

Her beloved topics at NHS were being calculus and data, and “I’ve also liked using Spanish.”

Julia reflected that her dad and mom, father James and mom Judit, taught her a good deal.

“Both my dad and mom have inspired me to work really hard,” she shared, incorporating that her father is a carpenter. “I guess I have appeared up to them my total existence since they work truly tricky to make a property for us. And they both of those really encouraged me along the way to do the job tough, research really hard, but to have a very good time.”

Some of her preferred lecturers at NHS have been Eugene Hall, Abigail Marks, and Christopher Pearson.

When questioned to share guidance for college students, Julia explained, “Stop and enjoy what you currently have and what you have presently accomplished.” Specially in high school, Julia stated, it is simple to target on what is still left to accomplish, and she would have liked to pause additional to reflect on how fortunate she was to attain what she did.

And along the way, Julia mentioned, she has fond memories of “good times” with good friends. She was a member of the school’s discussion group and tennis team. Activities like spirit week and homecoming were being generally fun, much too, she claimed.

“It was when anyone kind of permit loose the most,” explained Julia.

The final school year was absolutely different. Julia claimed she was upset when faculty initial went “fully online” simply because she missed viewing all people each individual working day. But then there was pleasure when the pupil body returned to in-person discovering.

When questioned about her studying techniques, Julia laughed and admitted she tends to procrastinate, “but not to the level in which I simply cannot get it finished.”

“I truly feel like I do my greatest function underneath some tension,” said Julia. “That is definitely when I am most effective enthusiastic.”

She explained finding out with her pals was a massive assist, simply because she if located anything she did not fully grasp, her buddies were being able of encouraging. She also uses apps to study.

“And if I have an examination or something, I by no means wing it,” she reflected. “Even if I still left finding out to the very last evening, I would go by way of the textual content e book, all the resources I was presented in course, and choose the time to make sure I fully grasp it.”

Sort And Supportive Inspiration

Sarah is the youngest of four siblings, and her more mature sister and brothers — Michaela, John, and Ben — have each individual been variety and supportive inspirations, as have her mom and dad, mom Laura and father David. With two mothers and fathers who are medical practitioners, Sarah stated she has constantly regarded she needed to go into the area of medicine. So this drop, Sarah is heading to the College of Connecticut, Storrs, to study physiology and neurobiology on a pre-med keep track of.

“They are just so supportive. My mom and dad have constantly been so supportive in letting me do regardless of what I needed to do,” said Sarah, noting a “nice balance” in between pushing her and giving her house.

From a young age, Sarah claimed she knew she wished to examine medicine and assistance people, “especially immediately after Sandy Hook. I knew that I genuinely desired to help other people.”

The Sandy Hook Elementary Faculty graduate had a tough time limiting the variety of teachers that have stood out and influenced her.

“There are just so numerous good teachers in Newtown,” mentioned Sarah. She named her kindergarten trainer, Miryam Kuligowski, and her second quality teacher, Abbey Clements, who “was just so sweet, so useful, and just always there for me,” as two of the 1st teachers to encourage her. Sarah reported her sixth quality cluster — with instructors Matt Dalton and Petrice DiVanno — at Reed was “just these types of a pleasurable cluster.” And at Newtown Large University, Tara Allegretto, Eugene Corridor, and Larry Saladin each individual influenced Sarah in unique courses.

Sarah performs volleyball equally at NHS and on a club group. She also participates in indoor and out of doors observe at NHS.

“I like having sports activities immediately after faculty. I assume it aids plan out my working day and presents me an outlet,” stated Sarah.

Sarah is not waiting right up until higher education to begin her journey of serving to other people as a result of the area of drugs. Last summer months she labored in her mother’s business office and this summer time she options to comprehensive EMT instruction with the hope of volunteering soon.

Her aims involve attending health care university, quite possibly turning into an unexpected emergency home health care provider, and, “Overall, I just want to reside a great life, aid as a lot of persons as I can, and hopefully stay a extensive and healthful lifestyle as nicely.”

When questioned to share her best recommend for other pupils, Sarah claimed, “Don’t anxiety far too a lot about college. Yes, it is important, but being content and loving what you do is much more significant.”

She strongly recommended finding a fantastic equilibrium with college and exterior of college actions, doing extracurriculars, paying time with close friends, and enjoying athletics.

All through her academic vocation in Newtown, Sarah said her mates have always been there for her and she appreciates the time they put in hanging out.

“I honestly think the Newtown neighborhood is one of the most effective, in particular just after Sandy Hook, seeing how the group came together,” Sarah shared, emphasizing that everybody cares about each and every other and the information of “be kind” is prevalent listed here. If any person is having difficulties, Sarah knows everybody in Newtown is “there to assistance.”

Julia stated she sees several customers of the community although operating at Caraluzzi’s Marketplace in Newtown.

“I feel we are def very fortunate. We have a definitely supportive community and I have usually felt that if I need to have support I have folks in the community who are eager and want to support me,” stated Julia.

She by now is aware of she will overlook Newtown, her neighbors, her teachers, and her mothers and fathers.

“It was just a really wonderful spot to develop up,” said Julia.

She hopes her upcoming retains locating anything she is “truly passionate about” and applying no matter what that is to “give back again, specifically to my moms and dads, and to my group as well, and all the people today who have helped me get exactly where I am.”

Eliza Hallabeck can be arrived at at [email protected].

Valedictorian Julia Dolan

Salutatorian Sarah Nowacki