Students envision futures

Two seniors at Saratoga Central Catholic High School are filled with visions of their futures: Hector Cardiel-Sam is thinking of becoming a doctor, while Kacie Kirkpatrick sees herself as an accomplished thespian.

They are getting a head start on those careers as members of a select group of students in an academic program called New Visions.

Open to college-bound seniors who plan to major in health or theater arts, the program is available in Warren, Saratoga, Washington, Hamilton and Essex counties through the Board of Cooperative Education Services (BOCES). Only 23 students were chosen this year.

Dream coming true

Hector said the New Visions coordinators look for students who are serious about what they want to major in at college and are above-average in academic achievement.

"Once I heard about this opportunity last year, I knew I wanted to be a part of it," he said. "Both of my parents are doctors, and I have known for about two years that I want to go into the field of medicine. I've been to the emergency room, ambulatory care, the oncology department, the telemetry lab and a surgical rotation.

"I feel incredibly lucky to be in this program. I've seen people very close to death, yet that's exactly where I have found humanity celebrated the most -- through those who care for the sick and dying."

On the boards

"I started acting when I was in fifth grade and have known since then that I wanted to be an actress," said Kacie.

In the program, she has "focused on different aspects of theater and production. I never realized that there is so much that goes into the production of a play: script-writing, lighting design, improv, staging, costume design. It isn't just about the acting."

Her theater troupe, which totals 14 students, has already performed Shakespearean monologues at a number of local high schools.

"I have been able to get to do what I love every single day," she said. Being part of this program "has given me the confidence to continue pursuing acting in college and, hopefully, after that."

(For information on New Visions, go to www.wswheboces.org.)

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