The Class of 2024 produced 39 valedictorians, and The Accolade interviewed each to reflect on their high school journeys and thoughts. This is a full version of the Q&A, of which the preview is included in our May magazine issue. Any remaining full-version Q&A will be posted in alphabetical order throughout the week in the Feature section.

Question 1: Which university have you committed to?
Answer: UCI [University of California, Irvine].

Question 2: What will you major in?
A: Economics.

Question 3: What’s your favorite movie or TV show and why?
A: “Interstellar” because I liked the visuals of the movie.

Question 4: Are there any quotes you live by that guided you through your academic journey?
A: I do not have a favorite quote.

Question 5: What extracurricular activities or hobbies did you enjoy in high school, and how did they complement your academic success?
A: I really liked doing track [and field] when I did it for a year. It helped me meet new people.

Question 6: What subject did others find hard, but in your opinion was the easiest for you?
A: I think AP [Advanced Placement] Physics was easy because I am really good at math.

Question 7: What extracurricular activity did you struggle to balance with your grades?
A: I didn’t struggle to balance my grades with anything.

Question 8: What did you sacrifice to maintain your grades?
A: I had to sacrifice a lot of my time to maintain them.

Question 9: How did your surrounding friends/family support you throughout your high school years?
A: They encouraged me to stay up during the night and study so I can maintain my grades. 

Question 10: Who is one teacher you are thankful for/ look up to and why?
A: Probably Ms. [Mariam] Tan because I like her work ethic as a teacher.

Question 11: What is one study habit you recommend to underclassmen?
A: I would recommend not procrastinating on homework.

Question 12: What is one advice you would tell your freshman self?
A: I would tell myself to live life to the fullest.

Question 13: How did you discover what you wanted to major in college?
A: I researched online and discovered that [being an economics major] can help me make a lot of money. 

Question 14: If you had to go back to any moment of your life when would it be?
A: I liked sophomore homecoming because I had a really fun time.

Question 15: What career do you eventually want to have in the future?
A: I want to be an investment banker.