Over the past four years, Shaunak Soni has proven himself a force to be reckoned with, boasting a virtually unmatched dedication to and affinity in academics, leadership, and community service. Since founding HOSA and serving as its president, serving as an FBLA officer and as marching band section leader, being a Taekwondo black belt, doing research, volunteering, and tutoring, he is to attend the extremely selective 4+4 BS/MD program at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra University, a direct path to medical school which will lead him on his way to future medical doctorship. To get a deeper look into Shaun’s high school journey, we gave him an interview which can be read below:
Q 1): How do you balance everything you do and also maintain your GPA? In short, how’d you do it?
A: I feel planning is the key to balancing extracurriculars and academics. To be honest, I did sacrifice a lot of sleep along the way, but I was doing things that I genuinely enjoyed, which made everything easier. The discipline and persistence I developed through Taekwondo and music helped me stay focused and keep going even when things got busy. Looking back, consistency and time management were probably the biggest factors.
Q 2) What advice do you have for underclassmen at Wayne Hills?
A: Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. We’re all here to learn, and in my experience, Wayne Hills has an amazing group of students who are always willing to support each other and offer advice. I also recommend reaching out to upperclassmen who have already gone through the classes, activities, or experiences you’re interested in. Making a community through things like sports makes this a lot easier and less intimidating to do. Their guidance can be very helpful.
Q 3) What advice do you have specifically for aspiring valedictorians or salutatorians?
A: I believe that focusing in the classroom helps a lot. We all have multiple things going on, but learning how to overcome distractions and stay focused on the task at hand can make a huge difference. Paying attention and staying organized reduces stress later and helps you build a strong foundation over time.
Q 4) What classes or teachers would you highly recommend students at Wayne Hills take?
A: I would suggest choosing subjects that you genuinely enjoy because that makes learning much more fun and rewarding. I have been fortunate to have amazing teachers throughout high school, and I am grateful for all of their guidance. I was especially inspired by Doc, whose fun and engaging teaching style made biology my favorite subject and also influenced my decision to major in Biology. Ms. Sherger’s dedication to her students and willingness to go above and beyond to help them succeed was also something I really appreciated.
Q 5) What plans do you have for the future?
I will be pursuing the BS/MD program at Hofstra University and the Zucker School of Medicine. My goal is to become a physician and serve others through medicine and research. I hope to explore how fields like genomics, artificial intelligence, and biomedical research can be used to improve patient care and advance healthcare.
Q 6) What words do you have for the people who helped support you on your high school journey?
I am truly grateful to my parents, family, teachers, mentors, friends, and everyone who supported me throughout this journey. They invested so much time and effort into encouraging, guiding, and believing in me every step of the way. I truly believe that it takes a village to raise a child, and I would not be where I am today without their support. As I move on to the next chapter, I will carry their lessons and encouragement with me.
