In fourth grade, while other students envisioned becoming heroic firefighters and wealthy doctors, young Mr. Corso aspired to become a principal. He may have been influenced by his parents, who were both principals, and he ended up not too far off as one of Pascack Hills’ guidance counselors.

Corso was part of the Paramus High School Class of 2001 and accredits himself as a teenager who would do anything for a laugh. When describing himself, he depicts a “semi-smart, semi-athletic, ridiculously good looking student.”

As a four-year baseball player, the guidance counselor spent the majority of his after school time on the field. And although his job is to steer students away from it today, Corso admitted that he became quite familiar with the inside of his vice-principal’s office. “I never did anything that would land me in any sort of serious trouble,” he explained, “I was more irksome than anything else.” Corso blamed his sharp wit for usually getting him into trouble.

Corso’s classmates Mr. Bucco, whom Corso “has known longer than [he’d] like to admit,” and Miss Mahaffey, likely remember when he dressed up as the Cowardly Lion from the Wizard of Oz: something he did twice in front of the school for a senior fundraiser. Other classmates, however, would remember Corso in another fashion. When asked what his peers would label him as, Corso responded with, “loud, a bit of a joker,” and similar to his personal description, “ridiculously good looking.”

Corso believes the largest difference between Pascack Hills today and Paramus High School in 2001 is the communication between students. “People actually talked to each other since Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat didn’t exist,” he explained.

As a word of advice for high school students, Corso says that, “as long as you’re happy, healthy, and work hard, the rest takes care of itself.” Corso even quotes Ferris Bueller saying, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”