Superintendent’s Spotlight: Sydney Introini

Warwick Valley High School junior Sydney Introini never stops trying her best – no matter the circumstances.

Sydney is an active member of several volunteer-based, community service clubs, including the Youth Prevention Coalition, Saint Stephen’s “Four Seasons Kids” program, the WVHS Interact Club and Wildcat Ambassadors. When she’s not donating her time to others, she can be found on the tennis court competing with the WVHS Varsity Tennis Team, instructing young players through the Warwick Recreation program, or keeping up with her schoolwork as a consistent high honor roll student taking several Advanced Placement courses.

Despite her many accomplishments, Sydney’s high school experience has not been without challenges. She was born with a rare medical condition called hypoparathyroidism, which occurs when the body does not produce enough parathyroid hormone (PTH). She now even works to raise awareness about the condition. With PTH playing a critical role in regulating calcium and phosphorus levels in the body, an imbalance can lead to a range of notable symptoms, including muscle aches, cramping, tingling, headaches, brain fog and memory challenges that can affect focus and cognitive function.

Although hypoparathyroidism is a genetic condition she was born with, Sydney’s symptoms significantly worsened during her freshman year, making it difficult to participate in many aspects of daily life that most teenagers take for granted.

“Going to school was really difficult,” she said. “But my teachers were really supportive and helpful, and I managed to keep up while doing a lot of work from home. I’ve even managed to be on the high honor roll throughout my entire high school career.”

While she continues to face challenges day to day, Sydney says she is in a much better place now and is proud of how far she’s come since the medical struggles of her freshman year. Her experience has inspired her to continue helping others, both through volunteer work and by advocating for greater awareness of hypoparathyroidism.

“People need to know about it,” she said. “It’s almost like a hidden disease because I look perfectly normal. Someone might look at me and think I don’t look sick, but that doesn’t mean I’m not struggling. There are kids who have this condition and aren’t diagnosed at birth, and that can make life a lot harder. I just feel like more people need to know.”

In recent years, Sydney has also found a sense of community among others affected by hypoparathyroidism. She was even featured in the Hypoparathyroidism Association newsletter, where she shared her story with children and families navigating similar challenges.

“This year, we finally found other kids who have it,” she said. “It’s really rare for children, so that meant a lot to me.”

With the help of new doctors, medication and symptom management, Sydney says this year has been her best yet medically, though the challenges haven’t disappeared entirely.

But those difficulties haven’t stopped Sydney from continuing to give back. She joined the WVHS Interact Club this year and participated in several volunteer opportunities, including dressing up as elves during the holiday season to bring cheer to children in need at Saint Stephen’s. She also spends time washing and sorting clothing through the Saint Stephen’s “Four Seasons Kids” program, helping provide essentials to children in need.

“It makes doing laundry fun,” she said. “Because I know it’s helping someone.”

This year also marked an important milestone for Sydney, as she was finally able to commit to a full season on the varsity tennis team, which went on to secure the Section 9 title, one of the program’s most successful seasons yet.

“I really missed hanging out with my teammates,” she said. “Coach Zwart and the tennis team are all very supportive.”

Sydney has played tennis since seventh grade and been with the varsity tennis team at WVHS since eighth grade. She now works as a tennis instructor for Warwick Recreation, and one of her biggest goals is getting back to playing consistently next season.

“I want to really get back into tennis,” she said. “I started taking lessons again and I’m able to practice more. My main focus is trying to land a spot on the lineup next year.”

Academically, Sydney is also preparing to earn her Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish this year. Her presentation topic reflects a personal passion: LEGO bricks.

“I’m really proud of my LEGO collection,” she smiled. “My presentation is about the history of LEGOS, how they have educational and developmental benefits for kids, and how they can help with mental health.”

Sydney estimates her collection includes more than 50 LEGO sets – many of them floral designs – lined neatly along the shelves in her room.

“When I was really sick freshman year, people started bringing them to me as gifts,” she said. “I would say I’m more into them now than I was as a kid.”

Looking ahead, it comes as no surprise that Sydney’s future plans center on helping others. Though she’s only a junior, she’s already looking at colleges with plans to major in speech pathology.

“I want to be a speech pathologist because I really want to help kids,” she said. “I babysit a lot, and I teach tennis, so I’m always working with younger kids.”

Her interest in the field was inspired by her mother, a special education teacher at Sanfordville Elementary School.

“My mom is really close with the speech and language pathologists she works with,” Sydney said. “She sees how great of a career it is and how many opportunities there are – you can work in a hospital or a school. You can do so much with it.”

Sydney especially credits her parents, sister and all of her grandparents for their unwavering support, noting her family and close family friends have always been her biggest cheerleaders!

“For as long as I can remember, my parents taught me to never give up and to work hard, despite my medical challenges,” she said.