Samuel Sainthil Heads to Columbia University
Samuel Sainthil has always been a classy sort of guy. Decked out in a white shirt, tie and black suit at the recent Distinguished Seniors Dinner, the Huntington High School, the teenager had a certain James Bond-esque look; cool, calm and comfortable.
Mr. Sainthil is headed to Columbia University in the fall after a fulfilling experience over the past four years. “My favorite classes would have to be all the English courses I ever took, as well as AP U.S. History,” the soft-spoken teenager said. “English and Social Studies always came easily to me because they involved studying humans, their interactions and their motives. Basically, I like to see what makes people tick.”
Teachers have always been impressed with Mr. Sainthil’s work ethic, his easy-going and pleasant personality and the weight and depth of his words. “I’ve liked to read since I was small, so English was easy,” the senior recently reflected. He’s comfortable speaking with people of any age and can more than hold his own in a conversation on just about any topic. Classmates know him as an all-around nice guy.
Like most successful students, Mr. Sainthil has forged positive relationships with a core set of high school faculty members. “Teachers that have really guided me through high school have been Mr. [Michael] Schwendemann, Mr. [James] Graber, and Mrs. [Deidre] Mayer,” he said. “All three have put up with me for more time than anyone should have to, but each has contributed to my learning experience in a special manner.”
Good Role Models
Mr. Sainthil has taken advantage of Huntington High School’s extensive course offerings and it has paid off. He committed to Columbia “after a long and stressful college application process,” the teenager said. “I could only get this far with the help of my friends, teachers and family who have always served as good role models and motivation for me to succeed.”
The most influential teachers in Mr. Sainthil’s life all have similar qualities. “Madame Mayer has been my French teacher for almost four years now and it makes the subject that much easier to learn when you’ve been with the same instructor for such a long time,” he said. “She knows how to get a student to learn something fast and easily while at the same time being certain that a student understands every aspect of the subject at hand.”
The senior feels much the same about Mr. Graber, “even though we have butted heads many a time - figuratively speaking, of course,” he said. “Mr. Graber’s thought-provoking style of teaching forces a student to look at different sides of an issue instead of understanding the subject in question in one facet. His unrelenting determination to get a student to work hard and learn has been very beneficial to me and many other students.”
Schwendemann a Mentor
Mr. Schwendemann has been Mr. Sainthil’s mentor since his freshman year. “Without him I would’ve surely broken down somewhere along the line during high school,” the senior said. His humor and focus are easily passed on to you when you work with him in drama club. His anecdotes and stories about his formative years also help one to put things into perspective during this, the most fragile time of any person’s life.”
Huntington’s drama club has played a central role in Mr. Sainthil’s high school years. “My first production with the drama club was ‘Romeo and Juliet,’ which was rehearsed and performed with professional actors from the Stages on the Sound theater company,” he said. “Working with them really gave me insight into the world of acting, Shakespeare, and the play itself. I really enjoyed that production, so I decided to do every single production after that.”
The high school drama club has built an incredibly loyal following among its student-actors and those working behind the scenes. “Mr. Schwendemann really made drama an enjoyable experience; grueling, but enjoyable all the same,” Mr. Sainthil said. “His insistence on treating everyone like a professional resulted in excellent shows every time. At times, when I didn’t really like what was going on in my life or at school, I could look forward to drama club.”
Mr. Sainthil said he’s also been “impacted” by Huntington’s Habitat for Humanity chapter “especially the trip to New Orleans during sophomore year. The experience opened my eyes to the plight of human beings and instilled in me a resolve to help people whenever I can. This was solidified by the tragedy that occurred in Haiti, my parents’ homeland. I had relatives living there at the time of the earthquake, so such an event really hit home for me. It gave me hope to see how the students of Huntington High School mobilized themselves to provide aid in the form of clothing, monetary donations, and other necessities that the Haitian people needed.”
Although he’s set on attending Columbia, Mr. Sainthil is undecided on a career path. “I do know that whatever I end up pursuing, I would like to be able to serve my fellow man and help others succeed,” he said.
All graphics, photographs, and text appearing on the Huntington Public Schools home page and subsequent official web pages are protected by copyright. Redistribution or commercial use is prohibited without express written permission. Comments or Questions? email the Public Information Office