For Oyster Bay High School Class of 2024 graduate Olivia Gallo, some of her fondest school memories are not the big milestones, but the small, everyday moments that made growing up in Oyster Bay so special.

A lifelong Oyster Bay resident who attended Oyster Bay-East Norwich schools from kindergarten through graduation, Olivia remembers hatching chicks in Mrs. Siracusano’s classroom, participating in the third-grade Wax Museum and Vernon Games, and sharing countless laughs with friends along the way.

“More than any one event, I remember all of the little moments. Talking to teachers and staff in the hallways, laughing with friends in class, playing sports, and growing up surrounded by people I had known for years,” she said. “Those are the memories that make Oyster Bay so special to me.”

At Oyster Bay High School, Olivia made the most of her opportunities. She served as class president throughout high school, played varsity tennis from eighth grade through her senior year and competed on the varsity golf team. She was also involved in numerous clubs and honor societies, including the National Honor Society, Art Honor Society, Birthday Wishes Club and Girls Group.

“I had a lot of different interests, and OBHS gave me the opportunity to explore them,” she said. “That is something I would encourage every student to take advantage of. You never know which activity, class, team or person will end up having a lasting impact on you.”

When asked which teachers and staff members influenced her most, Olivia struggled to narrow the list.

“I could probably write an entire page answering this question,” she said. “What stands out most is how many people at OBEN cared about us beyond academics. There were so many adults in the district who made school feel like a community and who genuinely wanted to see us succeed.”

One teacher who left a particularly strong impression was Dr. Faughey, affectionately known to students as “Dr. Queen,” who helped nurture Olivia’s love of reading.

“She is one of the greatest English teachers I have ever had,” Olivia said. “We learned so much while still having a lot of creative freedom within the curriculum. I especially looked forward to independent reading and journaling on Fridays.”

Although Olivia ultimately chose a different academic path, she credits those classes with strengthening her writing and communication skills, as well as a lifelong love of reading.

Today, Olivia is studying management and finance with a minor in philosophy at Boston College’s Carroll School of Management. She continues to draw on the leadership skills she developed at OBHS, particularly during her years as class president.

“Serving as class president gave me real experience planning events, managing budgets, fundraising, communicating with administrators, working with different personalities, and figuring out how to turn an idea into something tangible,” she said.

Those skills have served her well in college, where she has taken on executive board positions, collaborated on group projects and pursued professional opportunities.

“One of the biggest things OBHS taught me was not to be afraid to raise my hand and get involved,” she said. “You do not have to know exactly what you are doing before you start. Sometimes the best way to develop confidence and leadership skills is simply to say yes to an opportunity and learn as you go.”

That willingness to take a chance on herself also shaped one of Olivia’s proudest accomplishments since graduation: her decision to transfer to Boston College after completing her freshman year at Marist University.

“It took a lot of courage to leave a school where I had spent a year building friendships and creating a life that I genuinely loved,” she said. “There was nothing wrong with where I was. I simply realized that I wanted to challenge myself in a new environment.”

The experience reinforced an important lesson about being open to change.

“You are allowed to change your mind,” she said. “Choosing a different path does not mean the first one was a mistake. Sometimes growing up means recognizing when you want something more for yourself and having the courage to go after it.”

As she builds her life beyond Oyster Bay, Olivia has gained an even greater appreciation for the close-knit community in which she grew up.

“There is something unique about growing up in a smaller school district where so many people know one another and where teachers and staff can watch students grow from little kids into graduating seniors,” she said. “I had friends whom I had known for most of my life, teachers who knew my siblings and family, and staff members who genuinely cared about what I was doing.”

That sense of connection, she says, taught her the importance of getting involved, supporting others and contributing to her community, values she carries with her today.

For current OBEN students, Olivia's advice is to embrace opportunities, resist the pressure to have everything figured out and trust their own instincts, even when their path looks different from someone else's.

“Your friends may choose different schools, careers or paths than you, and that is okay,” she said. “Pay attention to what excites you, work hard, and give yourself permission to change direction as you learn more about who you are.”

Above all, she encourages students to have confidence in themselves and the choices they make.

“Do not settle, and do not be afraid to go after something simply because it feels out of reach,” she said. “Some of the best things that have happened to me came from taking a chance on myself.”

And if she could offer one piece of advice to her younger self, it would be to appreciate the ordinary moments that, in hindsight, mean so much.

“Enjoy the ordinary days a little more. You spend so much time looking forward to graduation that you do not always realize how quickly those years, and all the little moments that come with them, will pass.”