Pat-Med’s valedictorian Ohm P. Patel, salutatorian Luca Capuano, and essayist Harry Lian took the time to speak with the Long Island Advance about their future and advice for their fellow 2023 classmates.

VALEDICTORIAN: Ohm P. Patel

Hometown: Patchogue

GPA: 105.0966 (weighted)

College: Brown University

Projected Major of Study: Biochemistry

Extracurriculars: Key Club, lieutenant governor; General Organization, Board of Education student representative; National Materials Society; Pat-Med boys varsity volleyball, captain; Pat-Med varsity boys track and field; Materials Research Society National presenter (published abstract); and National Merit semifinalist. 

ADV: What is your favorite high school memory? What will you miss about Patchogue-Medford?

OP: My favorite high school memory has to be sophomore year when our schools’ two halves recombined after the COVID separation. It was like seeing a whole other side of the school you never have and rejoining friends you were separated from for half a year. However, I will miss most the volleyball team at Pat-Med because they were like a second family to me. We started the first boys volleyball team in our district, and so every success and every failure were embraced by all of us; that is something I will always remember and miss.

ADV: What advice do you have for your graduating class?

OP: To my graduating class, I would advise you to stay true to your grit. It’s been a long four years, but our perseverance, strength, and grit are what pushes us to be better. Failure is inevitable, and trust me, I’ve experienced it, but it’s how we bounce back that defines us.  

ADV: What are your plans for the future? What do you hope to achieve in your life?

OP: I will be attending Brown University this fall, where I will be studying CS-economics and biology. Additionally, I plan on joining Brown’s men’s club volleyball team and shadowing at Rhode Island Hospital. Even though I’m just entering college, I hope to achieve success in the field of biotechnology—specifically, in sports medicine. I want to make the recovery process easier from invasive surgeries to simple sprains.

ADV: What will you be doing this summer?

OP: This summer, I will be quite busy, but I will remember to relax. I will be playing beach volleyball quite a bit as well as going on vacation with my family. I will also be studying in hopes to join Brown’s EMS agency and preparing to pack for college.

SALUTATORIAN: Luca Capuano

Hometown: Medford

GPA: 104.0252 (weighted)

College: Stony Brook University

Extracurriculars: AP Scholar with Distinction; National Honor Society, treasurer, Tri-M Music Honor Society, treasurer; all-school musical pit orchestra, clarinetist; CyberStart America and National Cyber Scholarship Foundation, Scholar Award, Rochester Institute of Technology, Computing Medal, and Key Club, treasurer.

ADV: What is your favorite high school memory? What will you miss about Patchogue-Medford?

LC: In a broad sense, what I will miss most is the music department and the pit orchestra. I have been in it for all four years, and it was a very fulfilling and remarkable experience being surrounded by those very, very talented musicians. It was particularly formative for me in my freshman year; it was mind-blowing to me what they could play.

ADV: What advice do you have for your graduating class?

LC: If I could give advice two three months ago, before the end of the school year, I would say try to power through and do not let “senioritis” kick in. Finish up strongly and end with a bang so that we don’t have any regrets.

ADV: What are your plans for the future? What do you hope to achieve in your life?

LC: In the near future, I am going to major in computer science. I hope to gain the tools to have a better understanding of how to apply it in the future. What I hope to do is something a little more localized in our own community. I want to use my college years to learn how I can apply my knowledge into something directly benefiting people’s lives.

ADV: What will you be doing this summer?

LC: This summer I am going to visit my family in Italy. I am very excited about that and hopefully, it will be a relaxing summer where I can spend time with my family and recharge for the upcoming year. I also plan to prepare for my college studies to get a little advantage and be better prepared for the fall.

ESSAYIST: Harry Lian

Hometown: Medford

GPA: 103.7667 (weighted)

College: Undecided

Projected Major of Study: Biology (concentrating in microbiology)

Extracurriculars: District Equity Committee, student representative; The GiGi’s Playhouse, online math tutor; Human Voice Club, secretary and liaison; Science Olympiad, president; Red Cross Club, president; College of Westchester Virtual JumpStart Program; and May Gardens, front desk/online store manager.

ADV: What is your favorite high school memory? What will you miss about Patchogue-Medford?

HL: My favorite memories from high school would definitely be the times I spent laughing with my friends. I still recall the times I spent giggling alongside my friends over the smallest things, like getting an absurd answer in math class or cracking the silliest jokes while planning an event after school. Whether in the classroom or at a club, enjoying the company of my friends is definitely my favorite, and is something that I will truly miss from Pat-Med. I shall forever cherish those memories, experiences, and relationships that I have gained for the rest of my life.

ADV: What advice do you have for your graduating class?

HL: My advice is to enjoy yourselves! Spend the last remaining months having fun and living life to the fullest. Cherish those around you, your loved ones, family and friends. Be grateful for those that have raised you and give back to those around you. Appreciate what you have, as things can change any minute. Although change may be scary, go with the flow, as everything will work out in the end. So, remember to laugh and smile!

ADV: What are your plans for the future?

HL: I hope to work in the medical field someday! Whether I am treating patients as a doctor or conducting research in a lab, I hope to help others through my passion for medicine. I plan on studying biomedical engineering and the biological sciences with a concentration in microbiology at Cornell University this fall. After undergrad, I hope to continue my education either at NYU Grossman School of Medicine or Weill Cornell Medical School, working towards pediatrics and/or emergency medicine.

ADV: What do you hope to achieve in your life?

HL: Besides being successful, I hope to achieve true happiness and acceptance for the person that I am. Regardless of what path I will take, I hope I can make my family and friends proud of what I have accomplished; but most importantly, I hope to remind myself that I am loved, worthy, and good enough. Making a medical breakthrough and other forms of success are great, but being content in myself is what is important. It is all about self-love!

ADV: What will you be doing this summer?

HL: I will be working this summer until I have to leave for college. My parents own a Chinese food restaurant called May Garden in Medford (within the Sunshine Square Mall), so I help out the best I can to manage the front desk and our online services. But besides work, I hope to relax before I start school again, and hopefully get the chance to see my friends and enjoy our time together before we all go our separate ways.