Pine Plains Students Share Their Anxieties and Aspirations for the School Year

Pine Plains schools welcomed back students on Wednesday marking the start of the new academic year. The Herald spoke with three returning students at Stissing Mountain High School — a junior and two seniors — about their hopes and concerns for the months ahead. 

Audrey Zengen, a junior from Stanfordville, couldn’t wait for classes to begin. “Everyone else gets upset when school starts, but I’m always excited,” she said. The 16-year-old wrapped up her summer by volunteering at the Stanford Grange snack bar, marking her third year working for the Dutchess County Fair fundraiser.

“The junior year is supposed to be one of the hardest,” Zengen said, “But I’m determined to have a positive attitude and keep my grades up.”

Zengen is especially looking forward to her Advanced Placement art class. “I’ve been painting since preschool. Several of my acrylics and watercolors won first place ribbons at the [Dutchess County] fair this year,” she said. Zengen also has a passion for dance.  She has performed with the Stissing Theatre Guild since fifth grade, and danced a leading role in last year’s production of Matilda. “I have lessons two nights a week, too; I get really busy during school,” she said. “But I love it; I connect with people when I dance.” 

This year, Zengen will attend afternoon classes in fashion design and merchandising at the Dutchess BOCES County Career and Technical Institute. “I never really knew about all the opportunities offered by CTI,” she said. “I always thought that when students left after half the school day, they were going home; now I realize they were studying at BOCES.“ She hopes to channel her creativity into a future career: “I’d like to work backstage in Broadway fashion or as a runway clothing designer,” she said. “I could even become a personal stylist!”

For Zengen, her biggest challenge will be juggling her calendar to make room for homework, practices and performance. “But I know I can keep everything balanced,” she said. “I can do it.”

Milan resident Joey DiCarlo is excited to begin his senior year. “When I was young, the 12th graders always looked so cool to me,” he said. “It’s surreal being one of the older students now.” 

DiCarlo spent the summer working for a local landscaper, “weeding in the blistering heat.” The 17-year-old is considering taking a part-time job during the school year. “I need to buy a car, gas and insurance, and save up for my education,” he said.

DiCarlo is particularly eager to start researching colleges. “I can’t wait!” Joey said, “although I hear the applications are treacherous.” He has a list of 10 schools he’s interested in. “I plan on pursuing a career in the music industry; I’d like to work in recording or producing,” he said. An avid guitarist who plays everything from ‘70s classic rock to heavy metal, DiCarlo wants to keep music in his life. “With this degree, I’ll be able to support myself financially, too.” he said.

As classes begin, Joey is most excited for AP Chemistry. “Science is one of my favorite subjects, and I’m excited to take AP chemistry with Mrs. Antal.” However, he’s less enthusiastic about his college-level English class. “I’m not looking forward to it — it will be a lot of work,” he said.

In addition to his academic pursuits, DiCarlo is a linebacker and tight end on the football team, sprints for the track team, and is a member of Key Club, the First Responders Club, and the Math and National Honors Societies. “I have a tight schedule,” he said. “But I like to stay busy. Otherwise, I feel lazy.”

Madison Rego of Ancram is excited and a bit anxious about her senior year. “I’m taking a lot of AP classes: calculus, because I’ve always had a math brain; Spanish and physics.” Rego will also study college-level English. “These hard, hard classes will be in the morning, so I’m going to have to make sure I’m awake,” she said.

The 17-year-old has been dancing since she was four, and has performed in Stissing Theatre Guild productions since third grade. “I travel 90 minutes to take my four-hour dance classes in Westchester County four times a week,” she said. “I do my homework in the car.”

Active in student leadership and extracurricular activities, Rego serves as president of the student council, vice president of the class of 2025, treasurer of the National Honor Society and participates in multiple school clubs. Recently appointed as the Board of Education’s student representative, she attended her first board meeting this week. “I plan on working part time on the weekends, too. I know it’s a lot, but I’m organized,” she said. “I have a paper planner that I carry around with me everywhere. I also have my chalkboard calendar at home.”

Rego has already begun visiting colleges. “So far my favorite was SUNY Geneseo,” she said. She’s undecided on a career path, and added, “I keep going back and forth: I’m leaning toward teaching or physical therapy.”

This year, Rego is determined to strike a better work-life balance. “I’m going to try this year to not be so caught up in grades. I want to pay more attention to friendships,” she said. “I’d like to save time to chill out a bit, too.”