Before graduation, we caught up with the Class of 2026 valedictorian, Andres Bonetti, to learn a little bit more about him and see what advice he has for up-and-coming Bethpage students.
What years were you at Bethpage schools?
I moved to the district the summer before my freshman year, so I was in the district from 9th-12th grade (2022-2026)
What is your favorite elementary school memory?
My favorite elementary school memory was playing on my school's soccer team with my friends. I enjoyed the trips we took to compete against other schools and the time we spent together during practice.
What is your favorite high school memory?
My favorite high school memory would have to be going to the football games with the marching band. These games allowed me to connect more deeply with my school community and enjoy time with my friends after school while we cheered on our team.
What was your favorite high school class?
My favorite high school class was AP Physics 2 or AP Chemistry, as I really enjoyed the hands-on laboratory experiments in both classes and their practical applications in the real world.
Who/What motivated you the most in school?
Since my freshman year, I have had the idea of attending a prestigious college, which has motivated me to take on a heavier course load and take on challenging courses. This ambition was nurtured by both my teachers and friends, whose constant encouragement helped me shape my academic success.
What faculty member do you think influenced you the most?
The faculty member who influenced me the most was my science research teacher, Mrs. Dulaney. I had her all 4 years of high school, and she was critical to my growth both as a student and as a person. Mrs. Dulaney helped me develop as a public speaker, making me more confident when presenting to larger audiences and competing in research competitions. Beyond academics, she has also given me invaluable advice on managing heavy workloads and preparing for the transition to college life.
What classes or extracurriculars benefited you the most? Why?
My time in both Chemistry Honors and AP Chemistry motivated me to major in Biochemistry in College, as I want to explore the impact of chemical reactions in the human body more deeply. Taking these classes helped further foster my love for the STEM and medical field as well as cement my desire to conduct future research deeply analyzing chemical reactions in the human body.
Outside the classroom, I benefited greatly from the SPARK (Student Partnerships for Advanced Research and Knowledge) at Brookhaven National Lab. This provided my first experience in a formal laboratory setting, where I worked under the mentorship of staff scientists at the AttoMap XRF beamline. Alongside two peers, I designed an original research study and utilized BNL’s advanced capabilities to gather data. We eventually presented our findings at the laboratory’s Users’ Meeting and Scholars Symposium. This experience enriched me with essential laboratory procedures and research skills that I look forward to applying in my future endeavors
What advice would you give to incoming freshmen about their high school years?
I would advise them to enter high school with at least an idea of which extracurriculars or classes they might want to participate in, while remaining open to the wide variety of new activities available. I would also advise them to try to go out of their comfort zone, whether by participating in a community/school event or giving a presentation in front of a class. Additionally, building strong relationships with your teachers is also extremely important, as those connections are essential when it comes time to request recommendation letters for college or summer programs.
Do you have any advice for students about to start the college application process?
Definitely try to stay as organized as possible since the whole process can be very overwhelming. What helped me the most was keeping a spreadsheet for both track my activity list and each college’s deadline and essay prompts. Before drafting your personal statement, I would recommend brainstorming a bunch of random ideas in a document to see which one has the most potential for development.
Any tips for students on staying on top of their course load?
Keeping a calendar that outlines all of your after-school commitments helps you budget time effectively and ensures you have enough time for your schoolwork. To manage a large workload, break it into smaller tasks and tackle them bit by bit. Additionally, listing each assignment by highest to lowest priority and due date helps avoid leaving any work for the last minute.
What is your proudest high school accomplishment?
My proudest accomplishment in high school was getting 2nd place in the environmentalscience category at the Junior Science Humanities Symposium. The projects were extremely competitive, with numerous high schools from across Long Island participating, so I was happy to place second and earn a bid to the finals.
Where do you hope to see yourself in 20 years?
In the future, I hope to have completed medical school and work in my own cardiology practice. Furthermore, I plan to use my major in Biochemistry to connect my heavy metal pollution research with concrete health outcomes, specifically examining how pollutants inhibit cellular enzymes and disrupt metabolic pathways. Ultimately, my goal is to further inform the public of the dangers surrounding environmental toxins while mentoring future generations of researchers through running my own laboratory.
Thanks, Andres! Best of Luck at Georgetown this fall!
Stay tuned for our chat with salutatorian Anthony Hacker…
