By Catherine Wilde
Staff Writer | June 17 2008

Old Tappan — Valedictorian Steven Sloane makes being first in his class of 357 at Northern Valley Regional High School at Old Tappan with a grade point average of 4.92 sound easy.

For Sloane, success has come by pursuing what interests him.

"If it interests you it will be easier for you to succeed in it. I tried to take science and math classes because I found them interesting and it would make it easier to do the work and have success in it," said Sloane.

This work ethic has clearly paid off for the Harrington Park resident who will attend Princeton in the fall where he plans to major in chemical engineering.

Senior year Sloane enrolled in five Advanced Placement courses but still made time for the sports and organizations that are important to him. Sloane is captain of his soccer and lacrosse teams and has been involved with the Technology Student Association since its inception his sophomore year.

But he also makes time to help disabled individuals. Sloane is a counselor for a soccer program geared toward people with disabilities and a counselor at Camp Sunshine, a day camp for handicapped children and adults.

"I have always loved sports. I love sports most of all," said Sloane, who plans to continue playing soccer and lacrosse in college, even if it is at the club or intramural level.

Sloane thinks his involvement in a variety of activities as well as his academic standing worked in tandem to help him stand out during the college admissions process.

"I think it shows I’m not really focused on one group of people. Besides doing these activities one of the most important things is meeting different people," he said.

"If I’m on the science team and the soccer team [it shows] how I can interact with many different people and get along with them all."

Sloane sees his parents as role models. He credits them for "always being there" for him.

Advice from the valedictorian is to seek your passion in life.

"You may need to look for a while to find something but once you find it that will hold out more than anything else if you really like what you’re doing," said Sloane.