Baboolal celebrated for exceptional achievement
Victoria Baboolal, this year’s Honorarian at the Glen Cove High School, has been recognized for her exceptional academic and extracurricular achievements. This fall, she will be attending Long Island University CW Post, where she plans to major in psychology.
“Victoria easily adapts to different situations and she knows what she wants,” Alyssa Andersen, school guidance counselor, said.
“Her flexibility has helped her understand that you cannot plan for all situations, but you can make adjustments and still meet your goals. Victoria has continuously met and even surpassed her goals over the years.”
From an early age Baboolal demonstrated a passion for community service. At Connolly School, she joined the K Club, which focuses on community service activities akin to the Kiwanis Club. Her dedication to helping others continued through her involvement with the Glen Cove Public Library, where she participated in various programs such as making holiday cards for soldiers, shelter residents, and elderly people, as well as assisting with crafts and book buddy programs for younger children.
Baboolal’s commitment to academic excellence and community involvement continued in middle school, where she became a member of the Social Studies Honor Society and the National Junior Honor Society. Her high school years have been marked by active participation in numerous clubs and honor societies.
Under her leadership, she encouraged participation in competitions and fostered leadership skills among her peers. Her involvement in DECA has been influenced by her father’s business, Dave’s Kitchen and Bath Cabinets, sparking her interest in possibly combining business with her psychology studies.
In addition to her work with DECA, Baboolal has been involved in a variety of other clubs and honor societies. She is the vice president of the English Honor Society and a member of the National Honor Society, Math Honor Society, Social Studies Honor Society, and Science Honor Society. Victoria has also been active in the Environmental Club, Mindfulness Club, and Yearbook Club. Through these activities, she has engaged in numerous community service projects, such as tutoring, hosting educational events for younger students, and participating in food and toy drives.
Baboolal’s academic interests are broad, spanning from the sciences, where she took AP Biology and other specialized courses, to her AP Research project on the therapeutic effects of cinema. This project, which explored how movies can help individuals process emotions and work through problems, solidified her desire to pursue a career in psychology.
Looking to the future, Baboolal aims to become a clinical psychologist, focusing on adult clients and potentially conducting research alongside her clinical practice. Her passion for mental health advocacy has been evident through her high school initiatives promoting mental health awareness and stress management.
“I’ve just been a part of all these clubs, because I just love getting involved and doing all these different extracurriculars knowing that when I leave I just lived my high school experience out to the fullest.” Baboolal said. “I’m not coming back here, so I might as well just do it all.”
In addition to her academic and extracurricular achievements, Baboolal has made significant contributions to her community through projects like the installation of “little libraries” in Morgan’s Park and local elementary schools, promoting literacy and a love for reading.
“She’s humble, intelligent, smart, and I think her track record here speaks to the fact that she really will help others,” Allen Hudson, high school principal, said. “She’s really determined, and psychology is definitely a road to success, she’ll make an impact on the world.”
