Sometimes you're just meant to meet a certain individual- one who alters your way of thinking, who makes you look at the world differently, who changes your life. I found that special someone in Anthony Lifrieri at Lehman High School. In my beginning years of school, I was a lazy, un-ambitious child- especially in the subject of Math. I failed numerous Math exams and grew a passion to hate Math. However, in the second half of my Junior year, after him seeing that I was ready to quit, he motivated me like no one ever had. He made me participate, and would consistently chant, "You're on fire!" He instilled flames into me that made me earn a 99 at the end of the semester. His motivation is the reason why I was able to win the New York Times College Scholarship, get an acceptance into NYU, and win the gold medal for AP Calculus BC in my school- the "trifecta" as he likes to call it. He has also inspired me to become a Math Teacher as well so I can change lives of students, just as he changed mine.
- Robert Santos,
Former Student