Snapshot

         From Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey, Abby Strauss is an accomplished senior at Pascack Hills. But besides school, Abby has numerous interests. During the summer, she used to go to Camp Robindel, which she attended for seven years. Abby says that this experience has made an 'imprint on her heart.' Beside videochatting and facebook chatting with her campfriends, Abby enjoys all forms of technology. She is at her happiest, sitting on the couch next to her best camp friend, chatting or watching a movie with a bucket of popcorn in her lap. Abby is a great student who excels in all subjects, her favorite being forensics.

African Safari

Q: Tell me about your trip to Africa.

A: Two weeks, over winter break and we were in South Africa, and went on a safari. It is an experience I will forever remember

Q: How has your trip to Africa affected your life?

A: Showed me a part of the world where people lived differently then I do

Q: How so?
A: Some of the areas of the city were less fortunate then myself and the people there do not have the same opportunities as I do

You've Got Mail

It was Friday, December 20, 2010 and Abby was watching TV on her plush couch. The chefs on television were trying to assemble their meals as she heard her phone vibrate in the adjacent room. Expecting a message from her friend, Abby leisurely strolled towards her blinking phone while keeping a watchful eye on the chefs at work. Her finger slid towards the ‘wake’ button as the screen came to life. Within a moments notice, her interest in the cooking challenge was consumed by angst. The mailbox on Abby’s home page had a red star blinking on top and she knew it was a letter from Syracuse University. Fingers shaking and palms sweating, Abby opened the message. It had read 'click here to view a copy of your admission notification letter.' As the page loaded, tears flowed from her eyes and her heart began to pound inside her chest. Abby's tearful eyes scanned the screen and the a smile grew on her face; she had been accepted. Within a moments notice, her parents walked the house and Abby was so choked up with excitement that the word could not escape her mouth. Instead, she shoved her phone in her parents face and as Abby describes, “I have never seen a smile so big, they were so proud of me. It was like all my dreams had come true.”

    That evening Abby’s parents took her out to dinner at her favorite restaurant ‘Yuki Sushi’ where they celebrated her acceptance. When asked about the moment she opened the e-mail, Abby said, "I was overwhelmed with emotions, simply put, it was truly the greatest moment of my life.” Abby had been awaiting the e-mail for weeks and had applied to numerous schools as well, however, Syracuse was her top choice. . When she visited the school for the first time, Abby said, "I knew this was the school for me, I felt like I belonged here, it was perfect." Along with her visit to Syracuse, she looked at Maryland, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Penn State as schools she would like to attend.

            There are many things that Abby hopes to accomplish over the course of her college career. Abby is looking forward to majoring in communications and aspires to participate in numerous community service events. Abby says that she would most importantly like to, "prepare herself for the future," over the course of her college career. Abby also plans to be involved in the Greek like and hopefully be accepted into a sorority. When Abby went to visit the school, the spirit, campus, and “overall environment” had sparked her interest. Congratulations Abby!