While sophomore Leonard Goldman originally came to La Salle for its robotics program, he said he’s come to love his overall experience at La Salle beyond that.

Before high school, Goldman attended two separate Montessori schools: Harmony Montessori School and Franciscan Montessori Earth School (FMES). The education environment fostered at both of these schools — characteristically hands-on and independent learning — was something that he heavily enjoyed, Goldman explained. 

One of his favorite teachers at La Salle is Math Department Chair Ms. Kathleen Jahn, who also came from a Montessori background and previously taught at FMES. Goldman believes that she carries Montessori values by providing independent learning options, which has helped him learn and understand concepts better in her classes.

Some subjects he has especially enjoyed are the robotics program and math, especially enjoying them because of the challenge they offer him and the fact that they keep him engaged. 

“This is pretty cliché, but it’s logical,” he said, referring to math. “ I like that.”

This year, Goldman’s goals are to do well in school and continue pushing himself to learn and discover new things.

“There’s not really much point to getting good grades if you don’t learn anything,” he said.

After high school, Goldman hopes to go to a college that is both academically rigorous and which offers activities he’s interested in. While it’s “kind of a high target,” he said, his sights are set on Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Outside of school, Goldman plays piano, which he finds both relaxing and helpful at taking his mind off stressful assignments from school.

Along with piano, he fills his time with several hobbies, including coding, reading, and building creations with miscellaneous objects he finds lying around in his house.

“What makes them enjoyable is just being able to create something,” he said.

During the summer, Goldman spends most of his time either on a big trip — like visiting the Grand Canyon — or helping the Robotics Club by volunteering at the STEM/Design Plunge, brainstorming and solving complex problems with other students.

Growing up, he spent a lot of time at the beach with his extended family. These times at the beach were when he built some of the best memories he has of them, creating closer connections.

“Those are the biggest memories I have with my cousins and grandma,” he said.

If he had to describe himself in one word he’d choose “curious,” explaining that he asks a lot more questions than most people he knows — all out of a simple desire to better understand the world around him.

“Even if I don’t need to know the answer to do the work or learn the thing, I just like to know things,” he said.