This week's Snapshot features NHS Class of 2026 Valedictorian Olivia Bossio-Dotolo.

Family: At home it’s me, my younger sister, and my mom and my dad. My aunt, cousin, and grandparents are about to arrive too. They’ll be visiting for about a month. My other grandparents also live in town.

Do you have any pets? We’ve always had chickens since I was really little.

Do you have any nicknames? At school people call me by my initials, OBD.

How long have you lived in Newtown? Most of my life. We moved here when I was about 2.

Work: I am a full-time student at Newtown High School. I’ll be going to Hamilton College in the fall, although I’m not 100% sure what I’ll major in. I really love science so I’m thinking of majoring in biology and doing premed, but I want to try a lot of different classes first.

What is your favorite subject in school? In high school my favorite class was physics. I really love my physics teacher and the class was super fun. I took physics last year and this year.

Are you an active member of any organizations, clubs, and/or communities of faith? In school I was president of National English Honor Society and I was also on the Leadership Committee of National Science Honor Society. I also did National Honor Society and World Language Honor Society. An organization I’m part of is Jr Newtown Action Alliance; I went to D.C. with them twice last year and this year. I was also part of Newtown Ecumenical Workcamp Servants for three years.

What do you want to be when you grow up? I think a doctor but I’m really not sure. At one point I was contemplating being a lawyer. I go back and forth. Hamilton has an open curriculum, so I can really take whatever I want and I think I’m going to take as many different classes as possible so that I can see what really sticks with me and go from there.

What is the most recent book you read? The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. I’m actually re-reading that right now.

What is your favorite TV show? I love Friends. That’s my comfort show.

What is the most recent movie you saw in the theater? The new Star Wars movie, with my family. During COVID we watched all of the Marvel movies, and Harry Potter, and the Star Wars movies in order together. My dad and my mom introduced me and my sister to the Star Wars movies when we were really little and it’s been my favorite movie since then. I’m a fan of the classic Star Wars. The new one I was not a fan of.

Favorite musicians? I love Conan Gray, and Noah Kahan, and Gracie Abrams. Those are my top three. I’m always listening to them.

Who or what has been the greatest influence in your life? My parents. They’ve always been really supportive of me, and in a way that’s not stressful. They don’t ever set an expectation that I have to meet, which I think has been really good because I can set my own expectations. Especially with school and grades, that was really helpful for me during high school.

Favorite season? Winter. I’m a big skier and I love the snow.

What is your favorite thing about Newtown? The community. It’s a really spread out town but I feel like there’s always events and things happening. I especially love Fairfield Hills. I’m a runner, and I love going there and running and seeing all the people walking. I love going past someone and they just say Hi to me. I think that’s really special, how people connect in the town center.