As seen in the annual ‘Terrific Teens’ issue of West Hartford Magazine, 2015. Matthew Masciocchi is a 2015 graduate of Northwest Catholic High School.

By Katie Cavanaugh. Photos by Todd Fairchild/ShutterbugCT.com

For our fifth annual spotlight on recent West Hartford high school graduates, we were once again challenged because the pool of “Terrific Teen” candidates is virtually never-ending. We discovered teens with talents, tastes for travel, and thirsts for new challenges – both big and small. Every young person has an interesting story, and what resulted are eight stories about eight great role models whose aspirations will inspire anyone of any age.

Matthew Masciocchi is a 2015 graduate of Northwest Catholic High School and one of this year’s ‘Terrific Teens.’ Photographed in Blue Back Square. Photo by Todd Fairchild/ShutterbugCT.com

Matthew Masciocchi, our male Terrific Teen from Northwest Catholic High School, has found success through his hard work and determination.

Matthew was a member of Northwest’s swim team for all four years, and was the captain for both his junior and senior year.

But despite his success as a swimmer, it was Model UN that had the biggest impact on Matthew’s life. At the beginning of high school, Matthew was plagued with social anxiety. “When I was a sophomore into my junior year, I always thought if people wanted to hang out with me, they would call or text me,” said Matthew. “It hindered my confidence.”

Matthew said things changed when he joined Model UN during his junior year. “Model UN helped build my confidence and gain friends,” he said.

Matthew has always had a passion for helping other people in the community. “I constantly tried to push myself to do more for other people in West Hartford and the surrounding areas,” said Matthew. He began volunteering for MANNA Community Meals through Hands on Hartford when he was in sixth grade. He initially started volunteering with his older sisters when they were going for their high school community service hours.

Matthew found that he loved going and making a difference in the lives of the needy, so he continued to volunteer there for seven years.

“It was a lot of fun. After you cooked the meals, you could sit down with the people as they ate and learn about their lives and what’s going on in Hartford,” said Matthew. “It’s not just cooking. I learned about life, too.”

He also assisted international students as they transitioned into the Northwest Catholic community. “I helped them get used to the school during their orientation program,” said Matthew.

Having lived in Ostia, Italy for three months when he was in eighth grade, Matthew enjoys embracing new cultures. At that time, Matthew was young for his grade, and decided he was going to repeat eighth grade. His sister was studying in Florence, Italy and his father was in Ostia for business, so Matthew decided to spend his extra year abroad.

“I guess from my parents view it was one of those things that would be a really great experience during that time in my life. At first it was a ‘what if ’ and slowly it turned into a ‘why not,’ so they made arrangements for my dad and me to live with a woman and her family. She would teach us different aspects of Italian culture along the way,” said Matthew.

Matthew is now a freshman at Union College. He is not sure what he wants to do for a career, but hopes to find fulfillment in whatever he chooses. “I hope I can find something in which I can find little things I enjoy each day and keeps me on my feet,” said Matthew.

“I may not succeed and win every time, but how ashamed I would be if I didn’t try and push myself to make the world a better place,” said Matthew.

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