Jacobs is one of Huntington's Best
Cody Jacobs has always been a very good student. That much is obvious simply by looking at her transcript or speaking with teachers at Huntington High School. But, she's much more than simply a young woman who earns fine grades. The Class of 2010 member is also a world traveler, humanitarian and idealist.
Bright, articulate, well-spoken and a hard worker, Ms. Jacobs has excelled over the past four years. She's loaded up on honors and Advanced Placement classes in English and social studies, and shined in both subjects. An honor roll veteran, the senior climbed a little bit higher last year when she landed a spot on the high honor roll. She's justly proud of the achievement.
"I've been involved in student government and The Dispatch (the high school student newspaper) for most of high school," said Ms. Jacobs when asked about her extracurricular activities. "I have been doing the plays and musicals since fourth grade."
While the teenager hasn't shied away from taking challenging core courses and has done well in them, the 40 minutes she spends daily in art teacher Pamela Piffard's room are especially treasured.
"My favorite part of the day is always photography," said Ms. Jacobs, who has worked closely with Ms. Piffard to perfect her techniques. "I have been in the program since ninth grade. I first became interested in photography when I looked through my mom's old portfolio. My grandparents used to have a darkroom and taught my mom what they knew and now she teaches me."
It's just about impossible not to be impressed while flipping through Ms. Jacobs' portfolio. "I'm really lucky the photography program is great here," she said. "I love using the black and white dark room. It's one of my favorite places in school."
While academics, the arts and extracurricular activities have given Ms. Jacobs plenty to keep busy with, she has also spent considerable chunks of time traveling and has loved every minute of it.
"My parents have always been big on traveling and have brought my family and I all over the world," said Ms. Jacobs whose siblings include Ryan, her 21-year old brother who is in his fourth year at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, sister Allie, a high school freshman and Sean, a sixth grader at Woodhull Intermediate School.
"As a family we have been all over and now I am certain that no matter what I might grow up to do, traveling will have to be a part of it," Ms. Jacobs said. "Two summers ago, I went to Asia. We went to Cambodia, Bangkok, Malaysia and Hong Kong, where my brother studied for a year." There have been stops in many other countries, too.
As the countdown toward graduation starts, Ms. Jacobs is thinking about what the future might hold. "I have always dreamed of being a photographer for National Geographic," she said. "I am planning on studying anthropology, photojournalism and photography next year. My top schools right now are the University of Concordia in Montreal and the University of Falmouth in Cornwall, England. I guess studying abroad runs in my family."
College studies aside, Ms. Jacobs is interested in humanitarian work. "I would like to get involved with an international aid organization," she said. "This past summer I became involved with a really great organization, Miracle Corners of the World." It's a New York based non-profit organization founded 11 years ago "to empower youth to become leaders of change," according to the group's website.
"They do a lot of work in Africa, building community centers and promoting sustainability," Ms. Jacobs said about MCW. "Every summer they run a youth leadership retreat, gathering youth from all over the world and country. I met the most amazing people. Like minded peers from Israel, London, Africa, Italy, Long Island, New York City and other states came together and it was an incredible experience."
During the retreats, participants are asked to develop a personal vision plan. Ms. Jacobs is beginning to implement hers now. "I plan on connecting Huntington High School with a high school in a dynamically different country," she said. "This International Sister School initiative will hopefully one day not too far away, include an exchange program. I think it is really important to spread cultural awareness in Huntington and hopefully this program can do just that."
The senior has been working on the plan with Joseph Leavy, Huntington's district director of humanities as has social studies teacher Jordan Gould and his World Challenge group. Ms. Jacobs is trying to get other students interested in the initiative, especially underclassmen. She encourages students to seek her out if they are interested in learning more International Sister School project.
"My years in the Huntington School District are full of positive memories," Ms. Jacobs said. "I remember when I visited the high school for the first time and thought everything and everyone was so big. It sounds cliché but high school flies by and I have loved it. Now I am a senior and this is my last year. When I look back I see that all the great teachers I've had and the friends that I have made have been a part of defining me."