AHS student walking straight toward college
Challenge of scoliosis has not deterred senior from academic achievement
BY JANE MEGGITT
Staff Writer

JERRYWOLKOWITZ staff Jacqueline Zapicchi works part time for Dr. Leonard Kelly, an Allentown chiropractor who treated her for scoliosis. Jacqueline “fell in love” with Monmouth University and will hear about her admission status in January.

All seniors applying for college face some sort of challenge, but few have spent an entire year of their high school career recuperating from serious surgery.

Fewer still will have maintained a straight-A average while unable to attend class.

One who did accomplish this feat is Jacqueline Zapicchi, of Upper Freehold. The 17-year-old senior at Allentown High School (AHS) had surgery last year because of severe scoliosis. At that time, her lungs were only functioning at 50 percent of capacity as a result of her condition, and doctors were concerned about the effect of scoliosis on her vital organs.

Jacqueline had suffered from scoliosis her entire life, but it wasn’t until after a fall in the fourth grade and subsequent X-rays that doctors realized how serious the situation was.

She spent three years in a scoliosis brace, which at times was very painful, before her operation.

Jacqueline had her surgery in November 2003 at the Hospital of Special Surgery in New York City. Because of the two 12-hour surgeries, she didn’t pick up a book until January 2004.

“It took everything out of me,” she recalled.

It was not until the first day of school this September that she was able to attend a full day of school. She returned to school briefly after Easter vacation in her junior year, but could not manage more than a couple of class periods per day.

Still, she was able to maintain a GPA of 4.1, although she admitted her SAT score of 1030 is “not good.”

Her ordeal taught her about the important things in life.

“When you don’t get an A plus, you take it with a grain of salt,” she said.

She was not able to participate in sports, but has been an active member of the student council, is the National Honor Society secretary, and is a member of both the English and Spanish honor societies.

Jacqueline has applied to only one school, Monmouth University in West Long Branch, as an early-decision candidate.

Her heart is so set on attending Monmouth University that she really has not made any back-up plans if she does not gain admission. If she must apply to other colleges, they will be within a 90-minute radius of home.

She plans to major in marketing and finance.

“I fell in love with it,” she said of Monmouth University. “I met professors, visited the business classes. I could really see myself there.”

Her older brother, Mario, attends Philadelphia University. He told her she needed to be comfortable in her choice of school and happy with her major.

Her mother, Ida, said her children were “absolutely” expected to attend college.

She said that Jacqueline has always strived to do her best.

“She’s not a child you had to stay on top of to do things,” said her mother. “She’s been self-motivated since kindergarten.”

Although there will be financial challenges for the family, her parents are committed to doing everything possible to make sure their children get a good education.

“We feel that’s our responsibility, not hers. She needs to maintain her grades. We’re very proud of her,” Ida said.

Jacqueline said that sometimes when she is still doing homework at 11 p.m., she wonders why she took all these honors courses, but she really appreciates her grades and schooling.

While she went through a difficult time, it gave her confidence and made her feel “self-conquering.”

She is also grateful for something most people take for granted — that she can now walk and stand up straight.

GPA: 4.1

SAT: 1030

Clubs/sports:

National Honor Society,

English Honor Society,

Spanish Honor Society

Job: part time at office

of Dr. Leonard Kelly

College applying to:

Monmouth University