Coventry High salutatorian to study chemistry at UConn
COVENTRY — Ryan Murphy, a student whose excellence in both academics and athletics has already been recognized by the school, is the Coventry High School Class of 2025 Salutatorian.
Becoming the salutatorian was not a set goal for Murphy until recently. During his junior year, when he discovered he ranked fourth among his peers, just like his graduating sister, he decided to try to beat her out.
To do that, he decided to take an extra AP class and work hard to achieve his goal. Now, it's a done deal (or a fait accompli?)
One of the things that makes Murphy stand out is his involvement in many athletic activities. Throughout his high school career, he has played varsity soccer, hockey, golf, baseball and participates in club hockey as well. All these activities led him to become a recipient of the North Central Connecticut Conference Scholar Athlete Award.
'All the coaches are great here, and the team is super fun,' he said.
But sports are not the only extracurricular activities he's been involved with. Murphy volunteered as the Treasurer and Social Media Manager for the Class of 2025, where he has demonstrated leadership and strong organizational skills.
Involved in the community, he has volunteered with Coventry Human Services and the Friendship Soup Kitchen. Academically, he has been named an Advanced Placement Scholar with Distinction.
'I also did class officers, which is nice because it's like a tight knit community and we get to work on the prom, pep rallies, all that stuff, and it's fun,' Murphy said.
Starting in the fall, he will become a chemistry major at the University of Connecticut, hoping to work in science and research in the future.
Becoming a Husky was a logical decision for Murphy because the UConn campus is close to home, he has free tuition and many of his friends are going there as well. But the personal motives do not outrun his ambitions.
'It's just a good school and it gets better every year. They've got so many resources, a wide variety of things I can go into,' he said. 'So, I'm going in for chemistry, but I know once I get there, since there's so many options, I'll get to explore what I want to do and see where that river will take me.'
With his college career about to begin, he looks forward to finally studying something he loves and wants to do. Despite the good things he learned in high school, there are not always a lot of options for students to explore all their interests, something that college offers.
'The whole point is to explore your interests, so that's what I'm most excited for, to go on a path that I choose and I can enjoy,' Murphy said.
In a few years, he sees himself completing his bachelor's degree and going on to get his master's degree, but he hopes to be able to do an internship and explore what is given to him.
His advice to the incoming Class of 2029 is to take the classes they want rather than the one they feel they have to take because people are telling them so.
'When you're in classes you enjoy, it's self-motivating,' he said. 'So, you're learning for yourself, not for your grade.'
He also encourages students to take difficult classes like the Advanced Placement's, because, although they sound scary, they are more approachable than most students think.
'Once you get into them, all the AP teachers are great here and they will support you,' Murphy said. 'And if you work hard, you'll be able to have very good success.'
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