By Dan Murphy
This year’s valedictorian and salutatorian from Gorton High School for 2019 are Elliot Nelson and Melissa Canosa.
Nelson will graduate with a 97 percent grade-point average. His favorite, and most interesting teachers are Eva Arefieg, who teaches health science and bio ethics; and Brian Foster, who teaches global history, economics, and government.
“Their two teaching methods have always broadened my understanding of government and health and have allowed me to make socio-political connections between community health and the policies that influence health trends,” said Nelson, whose favorite class is economics and government because “I have always been interested in politics and understanding how decisions from those in power can affect the lives of those reliant on indirect democracy,” he said.
“Due to political lobbying, those who rely on the government to look out for their welfare often are undermined due to the commodification of people’s lives for profit,” continued Nelson. “Eco. and Gov. reveals how throughout history marginalized groups have always found a way to advocate for their rights and change public and government opinions for the greater welfare of the people. I believe through a firm comprehension of government and economics, people can more effectively participate as citizens and members of our society.”
Nelson has taken 12 advanced placement and College Link courses, and has participated in several extra-curricular activities at Gorton and outside of school. “Within my school, I’ve participated in various community service projects,” he said. “I’ve helped make cards for youth in the hospital, packaged and distributed care packages for men at the local YMCA with my psychology class, and currently I am teaching first-graders at Boyce Thompson, among other things.
“I’ve also done outreach work in Harlem, the Bronx and Lower East Side Manhattan while working for Maps Corps, an organization dedicated to mapping communal assets that people have limited access to. Also, I’ve facilitated peer-led sex education classes while working at Mount Sinai’s Adolescent Health Center and learned more about the intersections of sex and health education,” said Nelson, who applied to 15 colleges and was accepted into 11, including CUNY Hunter, Lehman, Baruch, Queens’ College, City College, SUNY Alfred, Buffalo State University, The New School, LIU Brooklyn, Louisiana State University and Delaware State.
He will be attending Hunter College in the fall and will major in health administration with a concentration in community health science and practices. “I want to continue to find and create tangible solutions to health disparities afflicting underserved communities in New York,” said Nelson. “In the future, I see myself working at a community-based organization or non-profit organization conducting field research and data analysis regarding health disparities.”
Nelson said he enjoyed his high school education at Gorton because “of the persistence of the staff and students to not give up on one another despite the challenges we may face in and out of the building. It is obvious that teachers want their students to not only gain knowledge in the classroom, but to continue their pursuit of becoming life-long learners,” he said.
Any advice for younger students?
“Knowledge that cannot be practically applied has little value,” said Nelson. “Use the academic tools and knowledge you’ve gained to improve not only your life, but those around you. By aiming to have a critical understanding of your environment and the issues that afflict your community, you begin to simplify problems once perceived as complex and can then begin to ponder solutions.”
Nelson thanked his grandmother for serving as a role model in his life. “She is an activist in the Bronx for 50 years,” he said. “She was a Black Panther and was the president of her Tenants Association. She has always advocated for the needs of her people and has influenced my belief in the importance of community.”
Salutatorian Melissa Joy Canosa will graduate with a 96.01 GPA. She said her favorite educator is U.S. history teacher Mr. Schmidt. “I had him junior year and he was an amazing teacher. He was a good advisor and always available for extra help,” said Canosa, whose favorite subject is math, and Algebra II, because “it was the hardest class and now it’s the easiest.”
Canosa has taken 12 AP and College Link courses and is a member of the National Honor Society Mentor, Junior Achievement, Smart Scholar, Junior Committee, and the Gateway Program, which is an afterschool program at Gorton where she participates in a variety of activities and mentors other students.
Canosa moved to America from the Philippines in 2016 and came to Gorton for the 10th, 11th and 12th grades. Her father worked in the U.S. for 20 years prior to Canosa coming to Yonkers. She has one brother and one sister, who have now moved to California with the rest of her family.
Canosa said she wanted to stay in Yonkers and in the metropolitan-New York area, so she lives with her aunt. “I’m happy here and wanted to stay,” she said.
She applied to 15 colleges and was accepted to all 15, including College of Mount Saint Vincent, Mercy College, Hunter College, Iona College, Westchester Community College, College of Westchester, Concordia College, Monroe College, College of New Rochelle, St. John University, Queens College, Manhattan College, Manhattanville College, New York University and Lehman College.
She will be attending the College of Mount Saint Vincent, just south of the Yonkers border in Riverdale. “It has been my first choice, and I am happy I was accepted into this school,” said Canosa, who also received a large scholarship to pay for most of her tuition.
She plans to study nursing and eventually move on to medical school, where she plans on one day becoming a cardiothoracic surgeon. “My family has heart disease and I want to help people with heart troubles,” she said. “It’s hard to lose someone and my family motivates me.”
“Gorton is a spectacular school,” said Canosa. “It has everything I needed for my education. What I like about my school is the environment, the interaction with other students, and the community. Meeting people of different character, backgrounds, religions and ethnicity was an advantage for me. It gave me the chance to learn about their culture and through these relationships, I learned more about myself. It’s always fun hanging out with friends and listening to their stories. Gorton also provided many opportunities and extracurricular activities. The counselors were supportive and they guided us through every step we took until we reached our goal.”
Her message to younger students is: “Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do. Successful and unsuccessful people do not vary greatly in their abilities. They vary in their desires to reach their potential.”
She thanked her father for getting her to this point of success. “He supported me for 16 years and my mom took care of me,” said Canosa. “My teachers and counselors and friends at Gorton also helped me adjust and feel welcome.”
