Senior Spotlight: Kamila Sarmiento Romero

Welcome to the 2026 Senior Spotlight series! This weekly feature will run every week until Central Islip High School's graduation ceremonies. Enjoy!

Senior Spotlight: Kamila Sarmiento Romero

Activities, Clubs & Leadership Roles:
Stage Crew (Assistant Technical Director); Action Committee (Chief Operative Officer); Computer Science Honor Society (Co-President & Founder); Superintendent Advisory Council Member; FEMpire (Chief Executive Officer & Founder); Math Club (Vice President); National Honor Society Member; Science National Honor Society Member; Varsity Lacrosse; Varsity Cross Country; Keep Islip Clean Junior Commissioner Program.

Most Meaningful Activity:
Stage Crew will always mean the world to me because of everything it has added to my life. The sense of community and the friendships I found there can't be replicated anywhere else. Beyond building sets and working behind the scenes, Stage Crew taught me confidence, leadership, teamwork, and how to trust myself under pressure. Seeing everything come together on opening night after countless hours of hard work is one of the most rewarding feelings imaginable. More than just an activity, Stage Crew became a second home and gave me memories I will carry long after high school.

Plans After Graduation:
After graduation, I plan to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering at Harvard University. Following my undergraduate studies, I intend to earn a master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering and eventually complete a Ph.D. in a STEM field, preferably Aerospace Engineering.

Future Career Goals:
I plan to pursue a career as an aerospace engineer, working on the design and development of aircraft and spacecraft technologies. I hope to contribute to space exploration and innovation, ideally through work with NASA or another leading aerospace organization.

Staff Member Recognition:
I am grateful to every teacher, coach, and staff member who has had an impact on my life. Two educators who stand out are Mrs. Romano and Mr. Ehrhardt. Mrs. Romano nurtured my love of reading and inspired me to become a more insightful, analytical, and empathetic person. There was never a day I wasn't excited to walk into her classroom. Mr. Ehrhardt continually reminded me that I am capable of achieving anything and that the only true limitations are the ones I place on myself. He pushed me to become better every day and helped shape me into a stronger, more level-headed person. I can only hope everyone is fortunate enough to have their own version of Mr. Ehrhardt in their life.

Role Model / Inspiration:
The most impactful people in my life are my mother and my two sisters. My single, immigrant mother showed me that hard work is what makes dreams possible. My sisters are my universe and have always been a guiding light in my life. They have taught me to lead with kindness and empathy, remain curious, and never lose sight of who I am. I owe everything I am to these three brilliant women.

What Central Islip Means to Me:
To me, being part of Central Islip means representing your people and carrying your community with you wherever you go. It means breaking stereotypes, recognizing that you are part of something much bigger than yourself, and giving back to the community that has given so much. Being part of Central Islip has been one of the best parts of my life.

Proudest Accomplishment:
One accomplishment I am most proud of was returning to school and sports after tearing my ACL during my junior year lacrosse season. Being forced to slow down was difficult, and I worried about falling behind academically and missing out on my activities. Instead, my teachers and friends encouraged me to focus on recovery. Returning to school and sports with a new mentality and feeling like I never missed a beat was one of the greatest accomplishments of my high school career.

Advice for Underclassmen:
Don't let fear make decisions for you. Everyone feels nervous, worried, or afraid of being judged, even if it doesn't seem that way. Once you realize that everyone feels the same way, high school becomes a lot less scary and a lot more fun. So don't be afraid to do everything and anything.