Senior Stories

Senior Stories are a Fox Lane tradition. Every year, The Fox Lane Times Staff chooses a couple seniors they feel have an especially unique Fox Lane experience and interviews them.  The selected people are diverse with different backgrounds and passions.  

Matthew Krasnow

Interviewed by Ella Stark

Maria Chinchilla Lemus

Interviewed by Ella Stark

How was your overall experience at Fox Lane?

I have always liked school. I love being in a classroom and learning new things every day, although sometimes it can be stressful when we don't understand a subject. I remember when I came to the United States in 2019, I was very excited to start studying at Fox Lane. The school here is very different from the one in Guatemala. There are more students here, there are activities after school, there are buses that take you to school. The school is very big. In Guatemala, I didn't have all that. Being at Fox Lane has been a roller coaster of emotions. I had to start high school again. In Guatemala I was almost finished and here when I came to the United States, I was a freshman. I felt frustrated because within my first year here my friends in Guatemala were graduating. Now I am happy for all the things I went through to become a graduating senior at Fox Lane. 

Being here I learned a lot --  a second language for example. I never imagined that I would have friends from different parts of the world. I have had amazing personal growth. I am not the same person as I was four years ago and I am proud of all that I have achieved.

What extracurricular activities are you involved in? 

When I came to the United States, I was 17 years old. My dad didn't want me to go to school because he was worried that I wouldn't help financially. So I started working at different jobs and at the same time I started school. This did not allow me to stay after school to participate in clubs or practice any sport. I remember how much I wanted to  be a cheerleader. It was so exciting and new for me, but I couldn't go to practice because I had to work to help my family. I also wanted to learn to play tennis, but it was not possible either.

For extracurricular activities, over these last months I have been part of an organization called PH/RYLI that was founded by Assemblyman Angelo del Toro for Latino youth to learn how the United States government works. I also created the international connections club with the help of some teachers and another classmate. I love to write and draw. I wrote and illustrated my own children’s book.  I work at Village Social and have many responsibilities at home that might count as extracurricular activities.

Who has been a mentor to you these last four years? 

Many people have had a great influence on my life these last four years, people who have been like mentors to me. One of them is my mother, whose resilience and desire to fight for a better future greatly influence me. The people who work with the ESOL department have been fundamental to my personal growth. I have so much to thank them for. They have taught me not only a new language but also to work as a team, to care about others, to be brave, and to not give up. In Fox Lane I found a home, friends who are like brothers, teachers who became like my moms at school.

What are some challenges you faced and how did you overcome them? 

If I have to talk about challenges, then I don't know where to start. The fact that I was 17 when I started high school, with limited time to meet NYS graduation requirements was a huge challenge. Learning a new language, earning good grades in school while at the same time working many hours after school and on the weekends. 

Many times I felt like I didn't fit in and didn't belong here. Many times I faced racism. But despite all this, I have always looked for the positive side of problems. I tried to find opportunities to grow in spite of all the difficulties. My mom always says that we are like flowers, and what do flowers do when it rains? They bloom! And that's what I've done.

If you could give your incoming freshman self advice, what would it be? 

I would tell myself not to be  afraid. When I was a freshman, I  worried. I was afraid of not making it. I had many responsibilities and these were difficult times due to the pandemic. I didn't know how to use a computer. I remember that I didn't understand what the teachers were saying and I turned off the camera while crying because I really wanted to learn, but I was so new to the English language that it prevented me from understanding and participating online. I did not know that I was capable of great things, I was very afraid and I just wanted to survive. If I could go back in time, I would hug that 17-year-old girl and tell her that everything will be fine and that she can achieve anything she sets her mind to.

What accomplishment(s) are you most proud of?

I am very proud to have come this far, to be the first in my family to graduate high school and go to college without having to pay anything because I won scholarships. I am happy that I was able to overcome all the challenges and graduate from Fox Lane. I am very proud of my personal growth. What makes me happy the most is seeing my mother happy because she can see  all the effort she put in was worth it. One of the things I'm most proud of is my book Maria Becomes a Butterfly. While writing and illustrating my book I was persistent,disciplined and despite all the obstacles I was able to finish it. That makes me feel so good.

What is one thing you learned from high school that you will never forget?

During high school I learned the importance of diversity and I'm never going to forget it. Maybe I knew it was important before but in high school it made further sense, because I felt different from most of the students and felt that I didn't fit there. I was wrong. Some people made me feel welcome and understood that we are all different and that this makes us unique. Now I walk into the future celebrating and embracing our differences because they forge our identities.

What is your favorite Fox Lane memory?

My first day in Fox Lane. I can't describe in words how happy I felt to have the opportunity to go to school. In the beginning I got lost  a couple of times and I felt surprised because there were lots of people everywhere! I will never forget my first day in Fox Lane because I wanted so badly to go to school.

To read in Spanish, click here: https://sites.google.com/student.bcsdny.org/thefoxlanetimes/bilingual 

Alexa Schuster

Interviewed by Ella Stark

How was your overall experience at Fox Lane?

My Freshman year was cut short due to the pandemic, and I was completely online during my Sophomore year. I’d say my overall experience was unique. I learned a lot about myself over the past four years, and surprisingly enough, the unpredictability of Freshman through Junior years assisted in that. I wouldn’t do it again, but I sure have learned a lot from that experience. 

What extracurricular activities are you involved in?

I’m involved with the National Art Honor Society, Newspaper Club, and my nonprofit organization Draw For A Cause. I write for Each Mind (eachmind.org), and I have an online presence under the alias “purplebeanie”. Joining the Newspaper Club in my Junior year tremendously helped me out of my comfort zone with writing and art. 

Who has been a mentor to you these last four years?  

This is a difficult question to answer. To be honest, I didn't have a singular mentor, and with Freshman year being cut short, that definitely influenced my relationship with teachers. Even though I didn’t meet her until the end of Junior year, my mentor has been Mrs. Burke, my AP Art teacher.

What are some challenges you faced and how did you overcome them?

Junior year was a rough year. I was very anxious and introverted. Coming out of my shell for Newspaper Club was a challenge, but very much worth it. It sparked this butterfly effect for my social life. That within itself helped me overcome my social anxiety. I really have to thank Jacob Feldman for that.

If you could give your incoming freshman self advice, what would it be?  

JOIN CLUBS. Especially the ones you’re interested in! I was so focused on maintaining a decent GPA that I completely forgot about hobbies. The pandemic actually forced me to jump back into my artistic roots.

What accomplishment(s) are you most proud of?

I’m most proud of maintaining my grades… honestly! Senioritis was kicking me hard in April! But, I’m also really proud of how my artwork improved. With Mrs. Burke's help, I was able to convey deeper meanings behind my whimsical/cartoonish art style, something I never thought would be possible. 

What is one thing you learned from high school that you will never forget?

I will never forget watching that creepy caterpillar parasite video Mrs. Luna showed my AP Bio class. I learned a lot from that.

What is your favorite Fox Lane memory?

My favorite memory was definitely the AP Art Show. The overwhelming amount of joy I experienced was amazing. Everyone’s exhibitions were fantastic, and talking about the meaning behind my works was a huge breakthrough for me. I was speaking to groups of people at a time, and it made me so happy to see everyone’s enjoyment. 

What are your plans for when you graduate?   

I plan on going to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute starting in Fall 2023. I will be majoring in Communication, Media, & Design with a dual (or minor) in Electronic Arts. I am extremely excited for this experience. RPI is known for implementing technology into their humanities school, and that’s all I ever wanted to pursue.

Matthew Toscano

Interviewed by Ella Stark

How was your overall experience at Fox Lane?

I had an amazing experience at Fox Lane from the moment I walked into the middle school on a cold rainy day in sixth grade, to my recent exit from the building, taking my last class and just getting ready to begin my ASPIRE internship. I met so many people and made lifelong friends as I progressed as a Fox. I learned so many new things which I could apply to the rest of my life as well, which I am forever grateful for.

What extracurricular activities are you involved in?

In my years at Fox Lane, I was involved in a few clubs such as Asset Management club as well as Sports Analytics club. These were both great experiences for me as I was able to meet so many new people and discuss very relevant topics, but my most memorable and favorite experience was playing for the boys basketball team. There was nothing like suiting up in the red, white, and black uniforms on a Friday night in front of our whole student section. Those moments on the court where I was with my teammates, battling for the win, with the whole school cheering us on were some of the best moments I’ve ever had in my basketball career.

Who has been a mentor to you these last four years?  

For me, my biggest mentors were all of the upperclassmen which I met along the way. Some of the closest to me were Justin Allen, Nate Dicarlo, Aidan Hicks, Michael Lombari, and more. Whether it was on the court, in the classroom, or even just walking around the halls, they were the ones who gave me the best advice for my future in middle school and highschool. They supported me along the way and gave me great advice on how to be a student athlete; balancing high averages in the classroom, and razor sharp skills on the court. I now try to use the advice that they gave me, on any underclassmen seeking out my help.

What are some challenges you faced and how did you overcome them?

One of the challenges I faced was balancing sports with academics early on in high school. During the season, my overall GPA would usually go down a point or two my freshman and sophomore years. What worked best for me was staying after school with my teachers, as well as using the study hall periods in between practices or games to complete my homework, then studying when I returned home.

If you could give your incoming freshman self advice, what would it be?  

I would tell myself that freshman and sophomore year are just as important as junior and senior year. Make sure that you give 100% effort extremely early on in high school because these grades will show up on your transcript just like your other grades in the future.

What accomplishment(s) are you most proud of?

The accomplishments I am most proud of are being a National Honors Society member, which covers my work done in the classroom, and making all-section, all-conference, all-league, winning the championship my sophomore year, and being a team captain for the boys basketball team, covering my work done on the court.

What is one thing you learned from high school that you will never forget?

One thing I learned from high school is that it's not about the quantity of friends you have, it’s about the quality of your friendships. 

What is your favorite Fox Lane memory?

My favorite Fox Lane memory has to be every home basketball game I have ever played in, in front of our amazing student section. Every time I wore my Fox Lane uniform and stepped out onto the court, I felt an overload of support from the community. Knowing they had my back made me feel comfortable and confident with every dribble I took.

What are your plans for when you graduate?  

I plan to attend Clarkson University as a student and a player on the basketball team. I hope to step foot on campus with an open mind as I want to pursue my academic interests and hopefully take the next step in finding my future career, while continuing to pursue basketball as well.

Dominique's Domain:

Senior Dominique Parris had a unique Senior Story interview with freshman Meghana Uday, and they also discussed autism awareness.  

Dominique was also an active member of The Fox Lane Times.  She wrote pieces to share her observations and thoughts about a multitude of different subjects.  

Things That Make Me Happy

Written by Dominique Parris

There are many things that I like that make me happy. The first is rain. I love seeing it rain, especially when it starts pouring because it makes me relaxed. Another thing I like about the rain is the sound. I like listening to it while being all wrapped up in a blanket. I feel comforted when it rains.

Something that makes Alessandro happy is learning about the presidents. Also, watching Thomas and Friends, Scooby Doo, and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. 

Rodin is happy because he is Graduating in 2023.

Dillon is happy because of Dominique, because of my beautiful face.

Mattias is happy because of his dad and enjoys making art.  

Celia said things that make her happy are basketball and bowling.

Maddie said her friends make her happy because they make her feel like her.

Meghana Uday: Something that makes me happy is watching Christmas movies with my family. I love sitting in my living room with my mom and brother beside me, sipping hot coffee and huddled up in a blanket. My favorite Christmas movie is Home Alone, and I watch it every holiday break.

The second thing that makes me happy is comfort food. I like eating comfort food because it brings me joy every time. Some of my comfort foods are pancakes, mac and cheese, rice and beans. The third and last thing is stimming. Stimming is something that I really enjoy doing. My favorite stims are finger flutters, and hand clapping. Also, I like to play with a lot of fidgets. My favorites are the pop its, fidgets spinners, and stress balls. In conclusion, these things will always continue to make me happy.

My Thoughts on the Netflix Show Wednesday

Written by Dominique Parris

Fun Facts About Koi Fish

Written by Dominique Parris