Alumni Interviews (2014-2015)

Vivian Wang is a class of 2014 alumni who is currently a sophomore at NYU majoring in classical piano performance while double minoring in design and media studies. During her time at SHS, Wang performed in with the school’s orchestra, co-founded Art Reach, founded her own freehand graphic design boutique “DesignInfinity,” and was a Spirit and Publicity head commissioner.

Q: What was your highlight or favorite memory of last school year?

A: My favorite memory was concluding my senior year with the orchestra trip to Spain — it was pretty magical. I got to solo on the piano with the orchestra, spend time on the beach, go to the Picasso museum with my closest girlfriends and visit places rich in culture that [were] unknown to me in Saratoga.

Q: Looking back on senior year, what would you change or do differently?

A: I don't have any regrets. I think if I hadn't made the mistakes I made during my senior year, I would not be where I am today. Senior year was just another high school session for me to grow and understand more as a person and also cherish the time I have with people I have gone to school with since elementary school. I know I did my best to make it memorable.

Q: What is your funniest memory from senior year?

A: My favorite memory was doing my final AP Lit project for [English teacher Catherine] Head. I was in a group project with [Class of 2014 alumni] Julianne Wey, Gloria Breck, Rachel Li and Akshay Madhani, and we did a film version of [the novel] “Breakfast at Tiffany's” by Truman Capote. Akshay dressed as Holly Golightly and us four girls played his suitors. During the filming process, it was just non-stop laughter because Akshay in a little black dress and pearls was the most unforgettable image I've ever seen. And as uncomfortable as it was for all of us to play our parts, I think we ended up having a really good time working on the project together.

Josh Pi graduated with the SHS class of 2015 last June. He will be studying biology and music at University of Puget Sound this fall. In high school, Pi was in involved in music, which included marching band, wind ensemble and pit orchestra. Pi also participated in student government as a class officer, an election commissioner and a Link Crew leader, in addition to being an officer in Interact.

Q: What would you consider your biggest regret? What is a valuable piece of advice that you wish you had heard and applied to your experiences senior year?

A: I wish I would have known to [apply] early admission to some of my schools. That could have saved me from applying to more colleges. Thinking back, I also probably didn't need to apply to nine colleges. I might have listed a few too many safety schools, and there were also some schools that I did not have that much interest in. It would have saved me from writing a lot more essays.

Q: What is your biggest takeaway from last year? How does that affect the way you have approached this coming year?

A: Towards the end of my junior and senior year, I started to get more involved around school, and that's what really made my high school experience so exciting and eventful.

Gloria Breck is a class of 2014 alumni and studying architecture as a sophomore at Middlebury College in Vermont. While at SHS, she was a happy musician, and hopes that music will remain a part of her life forever.

Q: What is your favorite memory from senior year?

A: In the spring, when applications and obligations begin to clear away, we began to turn all our time into pursuing projects and friendships. My fondest memories include karaoke-ing on a random weekend, and attending end-of-year performances, where my classmates shined. I realized from senior year that even when nothing [went] as planned, there was so much in my classmates to be joyful about.

Q: What advice would you give to a current senior?

A: Don’t glue yourself into couples, be wise couples, or instead, spend more time with a group of friends. Saratogans are quite fun and worth knowing, which I quickly realized after leaving Saratoga. Treasure time with all your friends; they make coming home very warm, later!

Q: What is your biggest takeaway from senior year? How does that affect the way you have approached your freshman year?

A: Relationships, specifically with friends and family, are as much achievements as all others. The care taken to form and maintain them is worthwhile. The people surrounding you provide the best instruction and inspiration, so study them!

Q: What is your funniest memory from last year?

A: Well, the Friday before February break, I ditched school and went to Monterey Bay Aquarium, and I had to pay with detention. Quite out of character, but it’s good to step out of character and good to take the consequences.