Meet Massapequa HS Salutatorian Taylor Wolfson

Massapequa High School salutatorian Taylor Wolfson is ready for a new chapter in her life.

"It feels really weird to know that I'm not going back to high school, but I'm really excited to know that I'm starting fresh next year," she told Patch in a recent interview.

Wolfson is off to the University of Southern California, but she will complete her final task as a high schooler when she delivers an address to the class of 2010 at Monday night's graduation ceremony at Hofstra.

"I tried to take a more witty angle," she said of her preparation for the  speech. "I tried to make it relate to everyone. It shouldn't be about me."

Wolfson says she's "been motivated for four years of high school," and is proud of being named salutatorian.

"It feels great to know that all my hard work has paid off."

She's going to take that work ethic to USC where she's trying to decide between studying psychology and history.

"I personally love ancient history or the European Renaissance," she said.

The honor student applied to other schools including Ivy League institutions, but said, she "fell in love" with USC when she interviewed there. She described the atmosphere as "more laid back," than the hyper-competitive schools she had visited.

"I love the fact that I'm getting a fresh start. I love that I can take the classes I want."

She's already taking on an academic challenge. Wolfson was accepted into the school's thematic option program, which consists of interdisciplinary courses divided around themes.

"It's a different way to take your core curriculum courses," she said. "It's more reading and writing based."

Wolfson said she applied to the program, "because it's the best way to improve my writing," but she must be doing something right. Of the 4,000 freshmen who applied to get in, she was one of only 196, who were accepted.

Not everything at school will be reading and writing. Wolfson is using her talent as a clarinet player to see USC's legendary football team.

"I'm in the marching band, I get into every game for free," she said.

The multi-talented student says she will miss her teachers and friends, but is heading full speed into the next chapter of her life.

"As fun as it was and for as many amazing experiences as I've had, I'm ready for something new," she said. Massapequa has prepared me for college."