Well-heeled Russian ancestry with an eye toward diplomacy
Joseph Rozenshtein of Syosset High Schoo's class of 2008 planned to attend Columbia University. (June 6, 2008) Credit: Howard Schnapp
Though he's credited with many high school achievements, including creating a new mathematical shape, Joseph Rozenshtein modestly shares his successes with others who have gone before him, from 18th-century French mathematicians to his illustrious Russian ancestors.
In his math research work, Rozenshtein, 17, inverted an ellipse over a circle and showed on a computer screen how this formed a changing shape, which he called an "invellipse." Though the shape may have been known to 18th-century mathematicians, they "didn't have the technology tools I had to show it," he said. The invellipse won him several awards and praise from math teachers who said they had never seen it before.
Despite his math research success, Rozenshtein would rather be recognized as a debater. His forte is extemporaneous speech.
In extemporaneous debate, participants are given a topic such as "Is the United States headed for a deep recession?" They have 30 minutes to prepare a seven-minute speech. As captain of Syosset High School's forensic team, Rozenshtein led his team to awards at Princeton, Harvard and other major colleges. He's listed among the nation's top 60 extempor- aneous speakers.
Rozenshtein also introduced Syosset class- mates to "The People Speak," public forum debates sponsored by the United Nations.
He plans to concentrate on East Asian studies because he feels that part of the world is becoming increasingly important and needs to be understood. He'll study Japanese in a seven-week program in Tokyo this summer. At Columbia University he'll concentrate on East Asian political science and economics. His goal: a career in the diplomatic service and possibly a national political role.
"Joseph will bring integrity, morality and skill to everything he does," said guidance counselor Rosalind Silverstein. He also brings "a sense of joy and delight," she said.
For his part, Rozenshtein wants to measure up to his Russian ancestors. One great-grandfather tutored Josef Stalin's daughter and survived exile in the Siberian gulag after a regime change. Another great-grandfather designed a utility system for St. Petersburg.
His parents migrated from Russia in the 1970s, his mother becoming a radiologist at Columbia University Medical Center, and his father, a computer scientist.
