“If there’s one thing I want to share with all of you tonight, it is the importance of discovery,” said Alex Peng, Corning-Painted Post High School 2024 Salutatorian during his address to his classmates at graduation. “High school was all about discovery.” He remarked about the opportunity to discover interests, career paths or a new hobby. He continued, “It was a time when we were free to take a new class, join a new club, learn a new instrument or play a new sport.”
Alex will attend Cornell University in the fall majoring in chemistry and chemical biology. He has an interest in pharmacology and research and plans to further explore that area at Cornell. His academic career started at Erwin Valley Elementary School and continued to CPP Middle School and CPP High School. His interests extend to music and athletics. He was a member of the pit orchestra for the Drama Club, playing clarinet and violin. He also participated in Mixed Chorus and Choristers, Piano Club, Competition Band, and Indoor Drumline. Alex was also a captain on the tennis and swim teams. Outside of school he played clarinet and violin for the Youth People's Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes. He was also a member of local club swimming and tennis teams.
Alex said he always had an interest in the STEM fields and research. He said he is looking forward to Cornell where he will have new experiences. He said it is his desire that his eventual career leads to helping others through his scientific research.
“Don’t settle until you’ve explored enough,” he said to his classmates. “Reach out to others. Try new things you couldn’t before.”
Alex said, “No matter where your future takes you, whether it’s a trade school, going to college, serving our country or getting a job, don’t be afraid to venture down a new path or create a new one. You never know where it might lead you.”
For an article on the CPPHS Class of 2024 Valedictorian, Dorothy Piech, visit this link