Loading up on Education: Valdrin Sadiku

Valdrin Sadiku, Class of 2009, Prospect, CT

What are you up to? I’m in my final year at The University of Hartford, studying Risk Management and Insurance. I also just started a full-time position at Travelers Insurance in Hartford, CT working in the claims department. I have also been very fortunate to work with a start up company Tauruseer, a Risk Management Platform, for this Spring semester.

How'd you get here? After my high school career was in the books, it was a rough road of working countless hours. I wasn't interested in going to college right after high school, so I moved to Florida in 2010 and worked for a home improvement company loading trucks at Raymond's Building Supply Company. The long physical hours put a big toll on my body, physically and mentally, and I knew that this was not where I wanted to be. I felt that the only solution to make something of myself was to pursue my education again.

After years of being away from school, I finally enrolled to Pasco-Hernando State College in Wesley Chapel, Florida in 2015. I found myself with a new generation of students where I thought I was never going to fit in, but man was I wrong. Joining the institution was a great eye opener for opportunity as well as understanding that age is just a number. In 2017 I received my AA (associates degree). This was just the beginning of a long road in education.

In 2018, I moved back home to Connecticut and had the goal of finishing my education in a well respected university. I chose The University of Hartford to study in the Barney School of Business. By working hard to meet deadlines and to be the best student possible, I achieved membership status in the National Honor Society, which is truly something I thought I would never accomplish.

Just remember that it doesn't matter what your background is or how old you are, the opportunity to grow starts with the will you have in yourself.

What are your goals? I am grateful to be employed and start a career with a well established company at Travelers. I feel this is just a starting point in my career where I can learn the principles of the insurance industry and keep moving forward. I plan to work hard and become an Underwriter or Risk Manager for a well respected firm. The ultimate goal is to own my own business or reach the level of a Vice President in the insurance field. Don't let fear get into the way as risk can be a valuable reward. The sky is the limit, if you want it bad enough.

If you could tell your high school self one thing, what would it be? Crack the books harder. Be responsible for your positive outcomes, learn from the negative.

Creating His Own World: Robert Barkow

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Robert Barkow, Class of 2016, Brooklyn, New York

What are you up to? I'm a video game developer and the creator of the massive multiplayer adventure Ruinic which is set to release on Steam soon! I currently live in Brooklyn, New York and anything computer related is what I'm up to, whether it be programming, graphic design, or web design!

How'd you get here? After graduating from Watertown High School, I decided to take a gamble and not join the military or go to college so that I could focus on my goals. I continued to work on my computer development projects, which date back to when I was 10 years old. Between then and now, I have taught myself a vast array of computer skills. I was also given the opportunity to work on various projects by other developers, which in return gave me recognition in various communities. In 2018, I was given the opportunity to sign an agreement with VALVE Corporation (which is the developer of the software distribution platform Steam) for my video game Ruinic In November of 2018, 5 days before my 21st birthday, I signed. Soon enough, I realized that investing time into your goals and never caving under pressure will always lead to success.

What are your goals? It has been my goal for as long as I can remember to make a video game that people can enjoy, so I would say I am currently living my goals. However, my main goal right now is to keep developing Ruinic and make sure it's stable for release. I can see myself developing other video games after I finish Ruinic, traveling, or finding a new passion to chase. I’m developing most likely as you're reading this, so great things are being worked on beyond this page!

If you could tell your high school self one thing, what would it be? You can never fail, you can succeed and if you don't succeed, then you will learn.

Conquering Goals: Chris Terzigni

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Chris Terzigni, Class of 2008, Holliston, MA

What are you up to? I’m currently the principal of Founders Academy, a small charter middle school in Woonsocket, RI. I live in Holliston, MA with my beautiful fiancé, Laura. We relocated back to New England in October after spending the last 10 years in North Carolina, where we both attended school at High Point University.

How'd you get here? After graduating from WHS, I attended High Point University in High Point, NC where I earned a bachelor's and master's degree in Elementary Education. After I graduated, I found a job as a 4th grade teacher. Between then and now, I have taught 4th grade, 6th grade and K-5 STEM. I was also given the opportunity to work outside the classroom as a Personalized Learning Coordinator, where I oversaw the implementation of a one-to-one tablet program for two different middle schools. In 2017, I was given the opportunity to return to school at High Point University on a full-ride scholarship to earn my master's degree in Educational Leadership. I earned my Educational Leadership master's degree in May of 2018. Soon enough, I served as an Assistant Principal at an elementary school in Greensboro, NC before relocating to Massachusetts and accepting my current position as principal.

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What are your goals? It has been my goal for as long as I can remember to teach and then to become an administrator, so I would say I am currently living my goals and at a point where I need to start building new goals. I can see myself going back to school to earn my doctorate within the education field and after I have gained some valuable experience, look into leadership roles at a district level. I’m getting married in October of 2020, so starting a family and settling down is definitely on the horizon for me as well.

If you could tell your high school self one thing, what would it be? Take more classes that would earn you college credit... college is expensive, the less classes you have to take, the less money it will cost you. :-)

Drawing Young Blood to Radio: Caitlin Duffy

Caitlin Duffy, Class of 2011, Middletown, CT

What are you up to? I’m in the medical field where I am a licensed phlebotomist. I currently work in a gastroenterology practice (stomach & intestinal doctor) where I assist with blood draws, as well as medical records and billing. In addition, I am active in the Connecticut arts community and host my very own radio show on WMRD 1150AM, Middletown, Connecticut’s grassroots station. I play an eclectic mix in the same vein as I did on college radio. My hope is to use an old-school platform to elevate musical voices close to my community. I like to keep my ear to the floor by attending community jazz and classical concerts.

How'd you get here? I hold a Bachelor of Arts in French from Drew University from which I graduated in 2015. I was going to pursue a Master's in Teaching but gratefully discovered that public education isn’t my arena. For now, I am focused on developing a lucrative career with the skills I have. In the future, I will travel to France to work. The late Madame Mary Jane Miller was a huge influence on me. She was my favorite French teacher and helped shaped who I am in a critical time of my life. She inspired me to pursue my passions regardless of how others felt about them, or of how I come across. She helped me find confidence in being quirky which I have carried with me throughout adulthood.

What are your goals? I have plans to take classes in the fall for medical billing and coding so that I can further develop my skills and reach my financial goals. As for radio, WWUH and WESU are on my radio as potential platforms to share my taste for Northeastern, US music. My hope is to interview more local musicians and elevate their work to a broader audience, namely young people who wouldn't normally think to "tune in" to local radio. Please see any of my shows on demand on wliswmrd.net!

If you could tell your high school self one thing, what would it be? Forget about the haters, we all end up going off and doing our own thing anyway.

Professor of Music: Steve Leisring

Steve Leisring, Class of 1981,  Lawrence, Kansas

What are you up to? I am currently Professor of Music, School of Music, The University of Kansas (Jayhawks) Lawrence, KS.


I teach Applied Trumpet, and courses that go along with it such as brass pedagogy, chamber music, and orchestral repertoire. My students are music majors who play trumpet as their main instrument who are majoring in Music Education, Music Therapy, Performance, Composition, and Jazz. My current students have come to Kansas from 10 states and Puerto Rico, as well as 4 countries, including China, Afghanistan, South Korea, and Costa Rica.


Most people do not know that a professor's role at a Research 1 institution like KU goes far beyond teaching. Only 40% of my contract is teaching. This is typical at major flagship universities. 20% is Service to the university such as committees or recruiting, and 40% is Research, or, in the case of an Applied Music Professor, it is Creative Activity. My Creative Activity is musical performance. Since coming to KU in 2003, I have performed and taught in 17 countries, including in more than 20 cities and universities in China. In the last two years, I have performed and/or taught in Spain, Estonia, Poland, Italy, Switzerland, France, China and Taiwan. Highlights of my career: performances as soloists with symphony orchestras and bands in China, performing with the National Orchestra of Spain in October of 2019 in Madrid; 100 performances with the Kansas City Symphony including the National Anthem at Game 6 of the 2014 World Series; twice featured at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, Umbria Jazzfest in Italy, "Jazz en Vienne", France; Kennedy Center; with the Tokyo Symphony in Japan; performing in Sidney Australia; and with Ellis and Delfeayo Marsalis at Tanglewood in MA. In 2015, was given my greatest honor from my former WHS Band Director, Robert Pettinichi, who nominated me for the Wall of Honor at WHS, and was selected.

How'd you get here? After high school graduation, I spent 6 years getting degrees in Music Education and Performance at the University of North Texas, followed by a Master's degree in Orchestral Performance at the Mannes College of Music, New School University in NYC. Immediately after, I was chosen for a position in the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra, Canary Islands, Spain, where I was from 1989-2003. While in Spain, began teaching a lot, played about 100 concerts a year and performed at two World Expos, in Sevilla '92 and Lisbon '98; recorded about 25 CDs; performed all over Spain, and in London, Germany etc. I also re-lived high school life playing semi-pro baseball in Spain's top baseball league for 3 years. I was selected for tenure-track position at the University of Kansas in 2003, after an international search.

What are your goals? I want to continue as a music professor, and hopefully continue to be performing in new countries and return to others. I’m excited to be judging a competition in Lviv, Ukraine in March 2020 and also returning to the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki Finland to teach, as well as Poland and Central Conservatory in Beijing China, where I have taught almost each of the last 15 years. I’d like to continue to help students from all over reach their dreams. I am happy to respond to any WHS students with questions about music in college.

If you could tell your high school self one thing, what would it be? Find someone who is doing what you want to do, and talk to them about it. Most people don’t end up doing exactly what they studied in college. The best thing to do is follow your passions. There are so many more careers out there that are connected to your passions that you can’t possibly know about in high school. Do not be afraid to leave. Look outside of your area for college, the Midwest and West are very different places and may offer great opportunities for study. I was so lucky a former Little League coach suggested I look West. It was the best decision for me to go to college outside of Connecticut. Be serious, work hard toward toward your passions and it will work out.