Mrs. Pesko—chemistry teacher, goat mom, and wife—graduated from Francis T. Maloney High School in 2004 alongside Waterford High School teacher Mrs. Potrisis.
Pesko described her high school experience as a “growing period” filled with many highs and lows. “I felt a lot of pressure from my family to be the perfect child,” she said. “I was a straight-A student up until freshman year, when I started slacking on my schoolwork. I stopped going to school and got really bad grades in a couple of quarters.”
Despite her struggles, Pesko found her balance again during junior year. “I started to go to therapy and talked through my feelings.” She finished her senior year with straight A’s in the majority of her honors classes. “I think in the end my parents knew it was just a phase, which is why they kind of batted a blind eye to it.”
In addition to academics, Pesko was involved in many extracurricular activities. “I was a starting varsity softball player my freshman year and played golf during the summer as well.” At the end of her sophomore year, Pesko “ended up quitting softball because of all the drama that was happening,” which allowed her to “switch to golf full-time.” She was also an active participant in the Alegretos, an all-girls show choir.
Pesko’s athletic accomplishments were impressive. “I was the only girl on an all-boys team. I started number three out of five on the varsity team, and by my senior year, I was number one and captain.” She also competed in high-stakes tournaments, which remain some of her favorite memories: “My junior year, I came in second place in States, which qualified me for New Englands, where I came in 10th, which I was very proud of. I also played in the Meridian City Championship in the summer.” Pesko went on to win this tournament 10 times, still holding the record for the most wins by a single individual.
Despite her long list of accomplishments, Pesko engaged in typical high school mischief. “I used to have parties in my basement without my parents knowing,” she said. “My basement was perfect—I had a Skeeball machine, pool table, TV, one of those riding machines, and a dartboard.” On top of hosting parties at home, she sometimes snuck out to party in nearby fields or woods, and she isn’t sure whether her parents ever found out.
Pesko’s love for golf was further fueled when she decided to work at the golf course the summer of her junior year. “I was a cart girl. I cleaned carts, worked the range—similar to what a lot of kids at Great Neck do.” On top of that, she often worked weekends at a local grocery store. “At one point, I was working two jobs and playing sports.”
Pesko’s relationship with her brother is both cherished and complex. “My brother is diagnosed with autism, but he’s also mentally delayed. He mimics and quotes movies and shows and applies them to real life.” While their bond is special, it could also be challenging. “There were multiple times growing up when he would become fixated on something. If something was out of his routine, he would lash out and project it onto me. For example, he would come into my room and just kick me for no apparent reason.” When asked if she would change anything about their relationship, she said, “I wouldn’t trade anything. Everything I’ve experienced has brought me here and made me a better human being in the end.”
Pets have played a significant role in Pesko’s life, both in high school and today. Her childhood dog was named Nayla. After Nayla passed away, her family fostered two other dogs. “We took in a white husky named Snowy, but she was too much for my brother. We also tried a black lab mix named Smokey, but she was also too much for him.”
A piece of advice Pesko would give to current students: “You do not need to have your life figured out before you leave high school. I went to college for golf, hated business, so I switched to chemistry, went to grad school, realized I hated being in a lab, and went back to school to get my master’s in teaching. I didn’t get a real job until I was 25 and switched career paths three times. Nothing is set in stone, so always strive to do what makes you happy.”
