Woodlands High School salutatorian Frida Tecalero approaches learning with equal parts curiosity and creativity - a mindset that has guided her throughout her years in the Greenburgh Central School District.
While much of her time is spent tackling complex ideas through the International Baccalaureate program, Frida also makes space for the small things that keep life balanced such as reading, taking photographs, and personalizing everyday objects in ways that reflect both who she is and who she hopes to become.
She takes pride in those small acts of individuality, saying, “I like personalizing things. I’ll put stickers of things I like now or things I imagine doing in the future.”
Frida has been part of the Greenburgh school community since Early Childhood Program, but her journey began with a major transition. Her family came to the United States just before she started ECP, and at the time she did not yet speak English. Spanish was the language spoken at home, and she recalls learning English only after beginning school in the district. Now fluent in both languages, Frida is also working toward earning the New York State Seal of Biliteracy.
That early experience of learning a new language helped nurture the curiosity that continues to shape how she approaches school. “I think if something seems interesting, or if I think I’ll learn something from it, I want to read about it,” she said.
One class that particularly resonates with Frida was Theory of Knowledge (TOK), where students engage deeply with complex questions and real-world issues through discussion, research, and reflection. In one lesson, the class watched a film about math education and explored how inequities in school funding can shape students’ experiences in the classroom.
“We watched a movie about math education,” she said. “The question was basically, ‘Does everyone get a slice of pie?’”
The conversation stayed with her. Math has always been both one of her most challenging and most rewarding subjects — a challenge she continues to lean into rather than avoid.
“Math is one of my most challenging subjects,” she said, “but it’s also a subject I love.”
That passion has helped shape her future plans. Frida hopes to study mechanical engineering, with a particular interest in solar energy and renewable technologies.
“In New York there’s so much pollution,” she said. “We’re always trying to fix it, but we don’t always have the funding.”
Outside the classroom, Frida has taken on numerous leadership and service roles. She serves as secretary for both Student Council and the National Honor Society and is vice president of Key Club, where she enjoys working with students from other schools on community service initiatives.
“It’s an easy way to help your community,” she said. “And it’s nice meeting new people. They’ll always tell you something you don’t know.”
That interest in hearing different perspectives is another extension of her natural curiosity - something she says continues to grow through both her academic work and her service activities.
Frida also plays clarinet, enjoys tennis, and is an avid reader who often turns to books as a way to unwind between academic responsibilities. Her willingness to explore opportunities, she says, comes from the encouragement she receives at home. Frida will be the first in her family to attend college, and while she is still waiting to learn which school she will attend, pursuing higher education has long been her goal.
“My parents have never told me no,” she said. “They always told me I could do anything.”
That encouragement shaped her approach throughout high school.
“I signed up for everything,” she said with a laugh.
Reflecting on her years in Greenburgh Central schools, Frida says the people she encountered along the way made a lasting impression.
“It continuously gets better as you move through the district,” she said. “I feel like I’ve enjoyed my teachers more and more.”
She specifically pointed to teachers like Mr. Rounds and Ms. Carol, whose teaching styles helped students with different learning approaches engage with challenging material.
“They teach in a way that almost everyone can learn from,” she said.
TOK teacher Mr. Rounds sees that same quality in the classroom. “Frida adds a great deal to our classroom discussions,” he said. “She’s deeply curious and incredibly thoughtful. She may not always be the loudest voice in the room, but when she speaks, it’s clear she’s been thinking carefully about the topic and her insights often move the conversation forward.”
For Frida, the district also provided something equally important: a sense of belonging.
“I think it helps that we’re not a largely white school,” she said. “It’s nice to constantly have different cultures around me.”
As she looks ahead to college and a future in engineering, Frida plans to continue following the same instinct that has guided her learning all along — staying curious, asking questions, and seeking out ideas that have the potential to make a difference.