By Catherine Wilde
Staff Writer | June 17 2008

Demarest — For salutatorian Anastassia Astafieva, it’s all about keeping busy.

Second in her class of 292 at Northern Valley Regional High School at Demarest, Astafieva said she attained her grade point average of 4.96 and was accepted early decision to Brown University because of her hard work and ability to balance all her commitments.

The ambitious teen took six Advanced Placement courses her senior year while making time for athletics as a long jumper, pole vaulter and field hockey player. She also devoted some Saturdays to pursuing her passion of drawing by taking local art classes.

"It’s a good balance of everything. I work better when I’m busy," she said.

Thinking of a favorite subject was difficult for Astafieva, but she settled on art, adding it is something she will pursue at Brown. She hopes to concentrate in architecture and environmental science, a joint endeavor with the end goal of designing green buildings and sustainable architecture.

She became interested in this concept after taking an environmental class over the summer at the Governor’s School. This government subsidized program was offered to upcoming seniors based on applications and GPA. Astafieva said she thinks it helped make her stand out during the college admission process.

Her advice on attaining academic excellence?

"Stay focused, stay with what you like. There will always be things you don’t want to do but you know you have to do them so you can get to the point where you can spend your life doing what you like."

Astafieva said her mother is her role model, because she is "a really hard worker and always put herself before everyone else."

The salutatorian said she is still working on her commencement speech but thinks it will urge her peers to think about the future and how they can contribute to the world.