The Class of 2024 produced 39 valedictorians, and The Accolade interviewed each to reflect on their high school journeys and thoughts. This is the last full version of the Q&A, of which the preview is included in our May magazine issue. All the previous Q&A’s can be found in the Feature section.
Question 1: Which university have you committed to?
Answer: Smith College.
Question 2: What will you be majoring in?
A: Economics.
Question 3: What’s your favorite movie or TV show, and why?
A: “Bob’s Burgers” TV show because it’s really funny.
Question 4: Are there any quotes you live by that guided you through your academic journey?
A: My favorite quote is, “Que sera, sera.”
Question 5: What extracurricular activities or hobbies did you enjoy in high school, and how did they complement your academic success?
A: I played tennis on varsity for four years. It helped me meet a lot of people, and playing matches was the highlight of my high school career.
Question 6: What subject did others find hard, but in your opinion, was the easiest for you?
A: My best subjects were humanity subjects. English is better than STEM [science, technology, engineering and math] subjects.
Question 7: What extracurricular activity did you struggle to balance with your grades?
A: Tennis, in season, takes up lots of time. I would get home around 10 p.m.
Question 8: What did you sacrifice to maintain your grades?
A: Lots of free time, not much sleep.
Question 9: How did your surrounding friends/family support you throughout high school?
A: My family didn’t pressure me much; it was mostly self-inflicted. Lots of friends supported me, and I would go to them for advice on assignments and understand wherever I was busy.
Question 10: Who is one teacher you are thankful for/ look up to and why?
A: IB [International Baccalaureate] coordinator, Mr. [Scott] Rosenkranz. Mr. [Randy] Oudega was very influential for IB for two years as an English teacher.
Question 11: What is one study habit you recommend to underclassmen?
A: A good night of sleep. Go to sleep early and wake up early.
Question 12: If you had to go back to any moment of your life, when would it be?
A: [It would be] when choosing high school [so I can] experience the thrill of being a freshman again.
Question 13: What career do you eventually want to have in the future?
A: Work on government or economic policies. Be a lawyer who focuses on becoming a partner in private business ethics.
