Senior Spotlight: Jessica Velesaca

May 10, 2018

When senior Jessica Velesaca joined the Léman community as a freshman, she was excited for all of the opportunities Léman had to offer. "I immediately joined the basketball team and I decided to sign up for theater," she says. "My advice to a new student would be try everything because you never know what you'll have a passion for."

During her time at Léman, Jessica has also been a member of the soccer team and volleyball team, a member of the National Honor Society, a Co-President of the Volunteer Club and the Student Ambassadors, as well as a full IB Candidate. "The IB has taught me a lot about time management, which allows me to pursue my passions as well as keep up with my school work," she says. "The IB teaches you to think critically, understand concepts, and articulate your answers, not to just get the right answer on a test."

She feels these skills will help her succeed at a selective school like Cornell University, where she will enroll in the fall. She plans to major in American Studies and minor in Inequality Studies. She credits the Office of College Counseling for helping her decide on Cornell, which is ranked #14 in national universities by US News and World Report. When she graduates, she hopes to start a non-profit in the Bronx, where she lives with her family. "I learned a lot about the non-profit world from my work with Breakthrough New York and the Lower East Side Girls Club. I want to help kids develop their interests and get into top schools like Léman," she says, "I couldn't have gotten to where I am without the Léman faculty. The teachers are what make up Léman. When you see your teachers putting in as much effort as you do to help you learn, it makes it all worth it because you know they care."