When Massapequa Valedictorian Melanie Sheehan delivers her speech Monday night, don't be surprised if it includes a few one liners.
"I love sitcoms," says the senior who plans to study Communications and English at Fordham in September. She is considering a career as a sitcom writer.
Watching sitcoms has become more than a hobby for Sheehan, who was an editor at the Massapequa High School Newspaper the Chief, is more than just somebody who enjoys a good laugh.
"I started watching documentaries on how sitcoms are made and how they are written," she said.
Melanie lists "Friends and "MASH" as two of her favorite, but isn't sure that her destiny lies in that area.
"I feel like at Fordham, I'm going to find something," she said. She chose to attend the Bronx school because of it's "emphasis on social mindedness," and credits the the Massapequa school district for helping her get there.
"I think they've given me a lot of opportunities," she said of the district while praising English teacher Alice Alcorn. "She showed me how you can use language to make a difference," Melanie said.
Melanie says she will will use some humor in her speech, but promises to that it will "be serious." She also admits to being nervous saying. "There's a lot of people at our graduation."
She shouldn't be nervous about her future with a high school record that also includes being captain of the varsity swim team, being a National Merit Scholar, membership in the National Honor Society and being an AP scholar.
She played bass clarinet in the school band and is working towards the Girl Scouts' Gold Award, making a video on Ocean rip current safety.
Melanie has many diverse talents, but she has one general goal as she works towards her future studies. "It's going to lean me in a direction where I can help," she said.
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