Shane Meyers Knew
a Wild Ride Awaited
Shane Meyers knew it and he was right. He was just a little boy, but even as a five year old he sensed what was in store for him. The Huntington High School senior will graduate next Friday night, but he still remembers that day, 13 Septembers ago.
Mr. Meyers started his long educational journey in a Jefferson Primary School kindergarten classroom with teacher Allison Kraus. He’s been a strong student over the years and earned the respect of the dozens of teachers he has encountered.
“I knew when the first day of Jefferson came and I accidentally rolled my parents car down the driveway that I was in for one real wild ride in the Huntington School District,” Mr. Meyers said. The teenager has rarely had a boring school day since.
Mr. Meyers plans to attend the University of Delaware, where he intends to study economics, political science and history. He is well versed in all three areas and will be able to get off to a strong start in college.
“My absolute favorite class has been Mr. [James] Graber’s Advanced Placement Microeconomics class,” Mr. Meyers said. “He truly instilled a permanent love for economics in me, which not only improved the way I think as a whole, in much more of a cost benefit analysis way, but he helped me solidify what I will be studying at Delaware.”
The teenager has also enjoyed a fruitful relationship with social studies teacher Kenneth Donovan. “I had the pleasure of having him as a teacher for both AP United States History and AP Government and Politics,” Mr. Meyers said. “He facilitated a love of teaching in me, as well as this immense love for politics and government. Mr. Donovan provided me the opportunity to express my point of view freely and willingly in his classes and although he and I never saw eye to eye on any issue we could always find common ground.”
One of the highlights of Mr. Meyers’ time at Huntington High School has been interning with math teacher Monica Racz in a Common Core Accelerated Geometry classroom. “I was fortunate enough to have her as my mentor through the internship program,” the senior said. “I gained so much insight into how to run and command a class, what the ins and outs of teaching involve, including the benefits and the drawbacks, which helped me reach a conclusion about whether or not it was a viable career option for me.”
Mr. Meyers has taken delight in helping out during the Special Olympics tennis program, winning a pair of Best in Show Awards for his photography at the Long Island Media Arts Show at Five Towns College in Dix Hills and being involved in a pair of political forums focusing on the War on Drugs and America’s Broken Education System.
The teenager has worked closely with art department faculty member Pamela Piffard over the past three years. “I’ve had the pleasure of having her as my photography teacher,” Mr. Meyers said. “She has been instrumental in molding me into the quality photographer I am, which was displayed in my AP. I knew I loved photography going into her class, but after it, she showed me that I can and will continue to perfect street photography in college and beyond.”
Outside of class, Mr. Meyers has played tennis for many years, beginning at J. Taylor Finley Middle School and continuing on through to the Blue Devil varsity for the past two seasons. “Playing tennis for this many years has given me an opportunity to land many jobs,” he said. “I have been teaching both private and group lessons since age 15, through private day camps and for the Town of Huntington.
A member of the National Honor Society, as well as the English, Math and History Honor Societies, Mr. Meyers in numerous community service type activities, including Safe Halloween for elementary school age youngsters and the high school’s Relay For Life. He has participated in multiple school organized political forums through the History Honor Society.
“If I could give any advice to an incoming freshman, it would be ‘challenge yourself, push yourself, don’t settle for a sub-optimal outcome, take the harder courses, get involved, be as productive as possible in your four years here,’” Mr. Meyers said.