For Class of 2027 salutatorian Angelina Iodice, some of the most meaningful parts of high school will never appear on a transcript.
They are the friendships formed in classrooms and through sports, the support that helped her navigate challenging days and the memories she will carry into her next chapter.
“A lot of my closest friends that I have now I made through classes and through sports,” Angelina said. “The memories that I made with them I’ll remember forever.”
Alongside her academic pursuits, Angelina has participated in flag football each year, as well as volleyball, track and cross country. Those experiences helped her build connections that became an important source of support.
That support mattered especially during junior year, when she found herself balancing demanding coursework with a job and a social life. Moving forward meant leaning on friends, taking things day by day and learning to tackle assignments before they piled up.
Her family also played a meaningful role, particularly her older sister. Angelina describes their relationship as a source of both encouragement and friendly competition. With her sister pursuing an interest in the medical field, Angelina has had someone to look up to - and someone she can turn to with questions about school or almost anything else.
“I feel like I could always rely on her,” she said.
Asked what advice she would give her younger self, Angelina returned to two lessons: Keep up with the work and trust that a difficult moment does not determine the outcome. Her message is to give challenges her best effort while remembering that things can work out, even when the path feels uncertain.
She is still learning how to find that balance herself. As she looks toward college, she expects to continue figuring out how to manage different responsibilities while accepting that some days will be harder than others.
“It’s okay to not be perfect,” she said.
Although she has not yet decided where she will attend college, Angelina is interested in a medical career, potentially becoming a pediatric doctor or surgeon. She is considering biochemistry or a combined undergraduate and medical degree program, with a possible minor in neuroscience or psychology.
Her interests grew through IB Psychology and science research, where she explored topics she hopes to continue studying in college.
As Angelina prepares for life beyond high school, she will bring more than academic achievement with her. She will carry the relationships, perspective and growing sense of balance that helped her reach this milestone.