Rain showers this morning with overcast skies during the afternoon hours. High around 45F. Winds WNW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Higher wind gusts possible..
Tonight
Cloudy and windy this evening, becoming partly cloudy after midnight. Low 27F. Winds WNW at 20 to 30 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.
MOHONASEN - Ella Scorzafava has always been a compassionate person.
Whether it was taking dance lessons or attending classes at Mohonasen High School, Scorzafava has always been the first to lend a helping hand whenever a peer was in need.
“I’ve always been someone who focuses on treating others with kindness,” she said. “That’s kind of like my No. 1 thing, because you really never know what someone could be going through.”
Scorzafava is set to graduate Mohonasen, where district administration described her as “a quiet leader who is dependable and kind” and someone who is “a role model in the classroom and beyond.”
Scorzafava was a multi-sport athlete during her time at Mohonasen, participating in varsity soccer and track, as well as the district’s unified bowling team — experiences she counts as some of her fondest high school memories.
“It was a great opportunity to be part of a team and make special bonds with people from school, and meet a lot of new people,” she said.
An avid history buff, Scorzafava said she likes to be challenged in the classroom and considered AP U.S. History as a favorite because she got to learn “about why things are the way they are.” She also enjoyed a class she took this past year on public policy because it taught her ways to better the community.
“It just helped me, I think, be a more well-rounded student and more organized and able to manage my time better,” Scorzafava said of the advanced course load. “I feel like those classes are beneficial because they really help you to be more mature overall, and they helped me get ready for college in more ways than one.”
Scorzafava will be attending SUNY Oneonta in the fall along with a few friends — an experience that she’s looking forward to even though she doesn’t quite know what she’ll be majoring in at this point.
She’s currently considering a career as a dietitian, physical or occupational therapist, or something in special education, a passion she developed as a member of the unified bowling team.
“There are a lot of different options, but overall something where I can help people is what I’m interested in,” she said. “That’s why I chose Oneonta, because they have programs surrounding those areas. Hopefully, once I get there, I can take a variety of classes and really figure out what speaks to me.”
One thing Scorzafava said she will definitely be pursuing in college is a spot on the dance team. She’s been dancing since first grade, following in the footsteps of her grandmother and mother, and currently performs tap, jazz, ballet and pointe.
“I ended up falling in love with it and it’s really been, for as long as I can remember, my escape from reality,” she said. “I have a very busy schedule, there’s a lot of things on my plate, and dance has always been the thing that kind of lets me just take a step back and get out of my head and just kind of be in the moment.”
Scorzafava said she’s been taking time to reflect about her years at Mohonasen, an experience she said has “flown by” but full of “a lot of good memories and a lot of great experiences.”
“Something that really will stick with me is just to try your best, even if you’re scared to try something new or you may be struggling with something,” she said. “Always just giving what you can give at that point in time is enough. You never really know how far you can go until you try, so I think not being afraid to go after what your goals are and what you believe in is really what’s going to get you far and open new opportunities for you and just great experiences in general.”
