Sachem East senior Jeffrey Bai is valedictorian this year. He recently did a Q&A with Sachem Report about his time in the school district and the impact Sachem had on his life. He will attend the University of Pennsylvania and major in finance.
Sachem Report: What does it mean for you to earn this honor as valedictorian?
Jeffrey Bai: “My parents have always said, ‘Try your best. Whatever the outcome is we will always support you.’ I followed this mentality, through success and failure, and I feel grateful to have the honor of being the valedictorian. However, I believe that the most important thing in life is choosing to do things for enjoyment, living life the way I want to live.”
SR: “What was your biggest challenge in high school?”
JB: “Time management. There is only so much time in a day to do all the activities I wanted to do. I learned this the hard way, especially during junior year, when the overload of work, between math competitions and school work/activities, threw off my balance. I learned that instead of spreading out myself over five activities that would result in poor executions, focusing on one or two activities and doing a good job on them is a much better outcome.”
SR: “What are your career goals?”
JB: “I think it is a little early to say since college is a place where the fluctuation of goals and aspirations is prominent. However, I would like to major in finance and specialize in an occupation in the field of investment.”
SR: “What does it mean for you to have attended Sachem?”
JB: “Sachem is a place where the students, parents, and faculty really are a family. As a student member of the Sachem Board of Education, I have witnessed first-hand the consideration and care the administration places when dealing with affairs within the community. Everyone in this family has a voice, a voice that can be heard no matter what. It saddens me to leave such a wonderful school district, but I am glad to have been a member of the Sachem family from my early days in kindergarten to my senior year in high school.”
SR: “Why did you select the college you’re attending?”
JB: “The University of Pennsylvania exceeded my expectations in both academics and environment. During Quaker Days, a three-day orientation event for prospective Penn students, I was able to witness several lectures by current Wharton professors and talk to current undergraduate students about their experiences at Penn. As one of the best undergraduate business schools in the nation, Wharton seems to be the perfect fit for me as it fulfills my desires to enter the finance field. The campus itself, inside the heart of Philadelphia, boasts one the most aesthetic urban environments I have seen. Lastly, Penn has clearly defined its objective for student involvement and makes the denizens of the university feel that they are all integral pieces to the puzzle.”
SR: “What’s Favorite moment in high school?”
JB: “One of my most memorable moments in high school was competing at a mathematics meet with the Sachem East Mathematics Team at Bellport High School. Originally, my friends and I were going to drive to the school after a quick rest stop, but someone misheard Bayport-Blue Point High School instead of Bellport High School. I could never forget the look on my friends’ faces after we realized we were at the wrong school seconds before we would arrive. One particular friend, the driver who led our entourage, even walked out of his car just to scold me. With his cherry-colored face, he said I misspoke the name of the school, but up to this day I’m pretty sure he had misheard me. Needless to say, our coach wasn’t happy as we barely made it to Bellport High School in time for the competition.”
SR: “Favorite teacher/class you’d like to highlight?”
JB: “Throughout my high school journey, there have been many teachers that have helped me to where I am today. (I can’t list only one. Sorry!) First, Ms. Moon, my guidance counselor, has always been there for me whenever I was in a predicament. She handles all her students’ affairs with a congenial ease while also juggling her other position as the coach of a state champion field hockey team. Along with her affability, Ms. Moon’s ability to manage all her responsibilities and obligations is extremely admirable.
“Second, my orchestra and string ensemble teacher of four years, Mrs. Downs, has also influenced my high school career. I remember the unease and anxiety of entering the orchestra room on my first day of ninth grade. However, her amiability quickly laid all my worries to rest. Mrs. Downs has a penchant to understand each of her students. I do not know how she was able to deal with me at times, but the last four years in her orchestra have been unforgettable.”
“Lastly, I want to recognize my physics teacher, Mr. Erickson. He is far from the orthodox teacher whose goals are to teach the book material and help students do well on tests. His goals are to prepare his students about the necessities, values, and consequences of life while also expanding our view of the world as a whole. I think anyone who has met Mr. Erickson can agree that he is one of the most interesting people you will ever meet. I would not be where I am today without the guidance of these three role models and many others residing in the halls of Sachem High School East.”
SR: “Have you prepared your speech yet? Any teasers?
JB: “Other than a few adjustments, my speech is complete. It will be a surprise, but I hope to keep it short and sweet with a few laughs!”
–As told to Chris R. Vaccaro