The Best of the Class of '05 As the school year drew to a close over the past two weeks, area high schools said goodbye to their seniors. In turn, each of our graduating students have bid farewell to what has become their home away from home. For most of these students, the senior year of high school is a veritable whirlwind of college applications, SAT scores, exams, extracurricular activities and social gatherings. They may have had little time to reflect on the enormous changes that are about to happen in their lives. Here, we give the students from the top of each class a chance to tell readers a little bit about themselves and to thank all those who helped them along the way. The Sentinel congratulates each of these students and all the graduates on their accomplishments, and we wish them the best in the future. Vanessa Merker Colonia High School Valedictorian GPA: 4.0 College attending: Brown University Expected major: Political science Career pursuing: Public policy Clubs/sports involved in during high school: Juggernauts captain, National Honor Society vice president, school newspaper copy editor, Model United Nations, recreational volley ball, Patriot Holiday Boat Drive co-founder Favorite TV show: The O.C. Least favorite TV show: Trashy reality shows Favorite movie: Can't Hardly Wait Favorite food: Cheesecake Favorite type of music/band: I listen to mostly everything on the radio. Green Day. Favorite pastime/hobby: Reading Thing you will miss least about high school: Getting up at 6:15 a.m. everyday (although I'll have to do it again after college). Thing you will miss most about high school: My friends. You can't replace the people you've known since you were in elementary school. What you are most looking forward to about college: The freedom - social and intellectual. Being able to pursue my academic interests without worrying about fulfilling requirements. The excitement of living in the city and experiencing all its cultural aspects. Arpan Patel Colonia High School Salutatorian GPA: 4.21/4.3 College attending: Northwestern University Expected major: Mathematics/Honors program in Medical Education Career pursuing: medicine Clubs/sports involved in during high school: Waksman Student Scholars, Math Club, Interact Club, Juggernauts, Ecology Club, National Honor Society Favorite TV show: Grey's Anatomy Favorite movie: Lord of the Rings Favorite food: Pizza Favorite type of music/band: Punk Favorite pastime/hobby: Snowboarding Thing you will miss least about high school: The constant locker trouble, the overcrowded hallways, and the endless homework assignments Thing you will miss most about high school: The students who defined my CHS experience as priceless and the teachers who made my four-year stay memorable What you are most looking forward to about college: The independence, social atmosphere, and most importantly, the academic opportunities available at college Heather Schwedel Colonia High School Salutatorian College attending: University of Pennsylvania Expected major: I'm undecided but I'm thinking about English and communications Career pursuing: We'll see where I end up, but I'd love to do something in television, magazines or publishing Clubs/sports involved in during high school: Academic Competition Team, Yearbook, Cross Country, class play, National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Model United Nations Favorite TV show: Seinfeld and Friends reruns or any melodrama about teenagers Least favorite TV show: Everybody Loves Raymond Favorite movie: Mean Girls, Newsies, or Groundhog Day Favorite food: Honey Nut Cheerios, bologna, and Popeye's fried chicken Favorite type of music/band: Queen and Broadway soundtracks Favorite pastime/hobby: I spend entirely too much time watching television, but I also love to shop, read and hang out with friends Thing you will miss least about high school: Worrying about the next stage of my life. I hope I'll be too busy actually living it to worry. But I'll miss everything else, even the things that annoy me Thing you will miss most about high school: My comfort zone - my hometown, my teachers, my friends who know me better than anyone What you are most looking forward to about college: Meeting new people, trying new things, living in a city Nidhi Jain JFK High School Valedictorian GPA: 4.075 College attending: Rutgers University Expected major: Pharmacy Career pursuing: Pharmacy Clubs/sports involved in during high school: Yearbook, French Honor Society, National Honor Society, Student Council, Cricket Favorite TV show: JAG Least favorite TV show: (Insert name of latest romantic reality show) Favorite movie: The Shawshank Redemption Favorite food: Pizza Favorite type of music/band: Alternative Rock Favorite pastime/hobby: Writing Thing you will miss least about high school: The rules that don't make sense Thing you will miss most about high school: Everything else What you are most looking forward to about college: Besides "grease trucks," seeing of what I'm capable when I'm left to my own devices Sandeep Satish JFK High School Salutatorian College attending: New York University Stern School of Business Expected major: Finance Career pursuing: Financial analyst or something on Wall Street Clubs/sports involved in during high school: Varsity Tennis, Spanish Honor Society, National Honor Society, Student Advisory Council, Newspaper Favorite TV show: Law & Order Least favorite TV show: American Idol Favorite movie: The Sandlot Favorite food: Baked ziti Favorite type of music/band: rap/hip-hop Favorite pastime/hobby: Collecting baseball cards Thing you will miss least about high school: The size of our school Thing you will miss most about high school: My close ties with friends, faculty and family What you are most looking forward to about college: Exploring New York City and working under distinguished business professors Mary Petrick Woodbridge High School Valedictorian College attending: Honors College at Towson University Expected major: Actuarial Science and Risk Management Career pursuing: Actuary Clubs/sports involved in during high school: Cheerleading, Future Problem Solvers, senior play, Women's Choir, Show Choir, Spanish Honor Society, National Honor Society, FBLA Favorite TV show: One Tree Hill and Gilmore Girls Least favorite TV show: MTV Cribs Favorite movie: 10 Things I Hate About You Favorite food: Chicken teriyaki Favorite type of music/band: Taking Back Sunday and The Used Favorite pastime/hobby: Scrapbooking Thing you will miss least about high school: Waking up early every morning Thing you will miss most about high school: Being able to see my friends on an everyday basis What you are most looking forward to about college: Living in a new environment Emil Navarrete Woodbridge High School Salutatorian College attending: Rutgers University Expected major: Pharmacy Doctorate program Career pursuing: Pharmacist Clubs/sports involved in during high school: Track and Field Favorite TV show: Family Guy Least favorite TV show: Anything on MTV Favorite movie: City of Angels Favorite food: Tostitos Favorite type of music/band: Classical, Chopin Favorite pastime/hobby: Watching movies with friends every Friday Thing you will miss least about high school: Mortal enemies Thing you will miss most about high school: Being with best friends seven days a week What you are most looking forward to about college: The change in learning environments ... and the college parties