PINE PLAINS — Admiring her graduating class’s ability to persevere in these uncertain times, Leah Schmid took enormous pride in accepting her role as valedictorian for Stissing Mountain Senior High School’s Class of 2020.
A longtime student of the Pine Plains Central School District, Leah attributed the district’s small size to shaping her academic career, especially during her middle and high school years. Compared to other districts, she understands that Pine Plains is relatively smaller, and said it is because of its small size that students get to know the teachers and staff better. She added that students are also able to get one-on-one help if they need it and the attention they might not otherwise have access to in a larger school district.
At a glance, Leah’s extracurriculars showcase both her academic excellence and her athleticism. Starting in kindergarten, she played softball until her freshman year at Stissing Mountain Junior/Senior High School, which she described as a good experience in learning teamwork and making new friends. In fact she said she made almost all of her friends from playing sports in Pine Plains. By her sophomore year at Stissing Mountain, Leah joined the Math Honor Society and then the Stissing Mountain High School National Honor Society during her junior year. She stayed with both organizations through the end of her senior year.
When asked to name a favorite memory from her high school experience, Leah spoke about attending both football and basketball games. While she admitted that she didn’t attend that many, she said that, when she did go, it was nice to see so much school pride and school spirit and to be a part of that energy.
While understandably disappointed by how her last year in high school turned out because of the coronavirus pandemic, which caused Governor Andrew Cuomo to shut down schools in mid-March and switch to distance learning for the rest of the academic year, Leah praised her classmates and their determination.
“I think as a class, and just outside of our school as well, the whole Class of 2020 in general really did the best we could and persevered as best we could,” she said, adding that their teachers were a big help.
Leah said she’ll remember all the people from her years in school, from the friends she made to the teachers she met along the way. Given how close knit the school district community is, she admired how people can “always still be part of the community even after you’ve left high school.”
Imparting a few words of wisdom on to the future generations of Stissing Mountain students, Leah encouraged future classes to get involved in school activities and create relationships with the people in their community.
“You can always make relationships with those people,” she said, “and they’ll last a long time.”
Come fall, Leah anticipates attending SUNY New Paltz. Though she is uncertain about her major at this time. She expects to figure it out once she gets to college.
Meg Sher, executive director of the David M. Hunt Library in Falls Village.L. Tomaino 
