Mineola High School seniors Kristen Sze-Tu and Joyce Hwang have a lot of things in common as close friends and accomplished musicians who’ve played and sung together throughout high school.
Now Sze-Tu and Hwang, friends since sixth grade, have something else in common as the valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively, of the Mineola High School Class of 2014.
“We didn’t have a rivalry at all,” Sze-Tu said when the two students were interviewed recently. “We both wanted to succeed and be at the top of our class. But it was never at the expense of each other,”
Both knew they were contenders for top academic honors when they were informed of their success earlier this year, but neither one knows her precise grade point average.
Sze-Tu said her grade point average is over 100. Hwang said her GPA is over 99.
“My goal is never to compete with other students. I like to do the best I can possibly do. I think that’s a good way to live,” Sze-Tu said, adding that Hwang shares her attitude.
The two students, who said they became fast friends almost immediately upon meeting in sixth grade, share many common interests.
They both played the violin since third grade and both perform in the high school Chamber Orchestra. Hwang has also played in the high school Chamber Ensemble since ninth grade.
“I think I like it because there’s always more for you to learn. There’s no end to mastering the instrument,” Hwang said.
Both are Tri-M Music Honor Society who said they’ve enjoyed the opportunities they’ve had to play together in quartets and quintets in New York State School Music Association competitions.
They have both also sung together in an extracurricular pop group called Dynamics since they were freshmen. Hwang has also sung in the high school a capella choir since her sophomore year.
Hwang said she’s enjoyed “singing with other people and having that sense of unity with them.” Sze-Tu said she also enjoyed that sense of camaraderie. They said they also share the same taste in music.
Sze-Tu said she learned to play alto saxophone between her sophomore and junior years to be a member of the high school marching band. She said it was one of her most rewarding experiences in high school
Hwang has performed in three musicals in high school, while Sze-Tu has worked as a member of the backstage crew involved in set design as paint manager on several productions.
“People always say the magic is on the stage. But I find it behind the scene. It’s fun to help something magical happen,” Sze-Tu said.
Through the high school Student Service Center, both young ladies volunteered as freshmen and sophomores helping Hispanic grade school students with their homework after school in a program dubbed “Casa,” the Spanish word for house. Funding ran out for the program for the young students with working parents, but both enjoyed their time in it.
“The kids were always eager to see you. It was nice knowing you’re helping them,” Hwang said.
Both said they enjoyed forming relationships with the students.
For Hwang, a member of the high school Christian Joy Club and the Chrystal Church of New York in Flushing, the volunteer work was an opportunity “to show the love I believe in through my faith,” she said.
Both have also been members of the Environmental Club and Hwang has been a member of the Key Club since her sophomore year.
Both students have also been involved in the Mineola High School’s science research program. Hwang studied the results of spinal surgery last summer. Sze-Tu studied the effect of morphine in controlling symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease.
Both students earned recognition for their work in the Long Island Science Congress. Sze-Tu also entered her research work in the national Intel and Siemens science competitions.
They’re both proud of what they’ve achieved academically, and happy about one other’s success.
“It feels good to know all the hard work I did in high school came to fruition in the end,” Hwang said.
“It feels like a responsibility, but one that I’m proud to have,” said Sze-Tu, who is secretary of the high school student government.
They said they’re currently working together on what they’ll each tell their classmates in the graduation speeches.
“They’re two examples of what makes this school community special,” said Mineola High School principal Ed Escobar. “They’re very good academically. They’re involved in activism.”
Sze-Tu has a strong interest in art and writing and will be attending Washington University in St. Louis next fall in part because of the school’s art department. She said she plans to major in some are of the humanities.
“I fell in love with the campus,” she said.
Hwang will be attending Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., but hasn’t yet decided on a major course of study.
They are both sure that they’ll maintain their friendship and said they’re looking forward to visiting each other at college.
