I finally made it!

[coolshannie]

A few years ago I could not spell the word 'Valedictorian' and because of that one spelling error I was told by a few people on this board that I wouldn't make it to my goal. I promised those who supported me and those who did not that in the summer of 2009 I would post pictures once I graduated and finally made it. Although my graduation is still a few days away, all of my exam grades are in and I am officially a Valedictorian! I have made it to the dream I have had since I was a little girl. In light of that I thought sharing a picture from my Senior Award's Night would be fitting. So thank you all, because those of you who commented, good or bad a few years ago, had a hand in my working harder to achieve my goals. I promise I'll post one more picture from graduation once I actually graduate.

 

[ChristmasElf]

Congratulations! Most of the schools have held there Graduation ceremonies here the last week or so.
Hope you don't have to wait too much longer to celebrate!

 

[AnnaS]

Congratulations! Be very proud!

 

[MoniqueU]

Congratulations!! There is nothing like proving the Dis wrong in a good way!!! That is quite an accomplishment for anyone and I am glad it was a detreminded Diser.

 

[disbridemimi]

You go girl! That is really something to be proud of and you can take that with you your whole life! Good job, all of the hard work has led to this!!

 

[DisnyMama]

I glad you proved those folks that had the nerve to say such a thing "wrong".

Congratulations!

Shannon

 

[Pin Wizard]

Congratulations! Sometimes even negative comments can work in a positive way. You've obviously worked very hard for a number of years.

P.S. Would you please inspire my son? I tell him to get the grades up and knock Miss Muffet out of the #1 rank in his class.

 

[Pin Wizard]

Oh, you reminded me of the induction into the scholars' program this year. (For freshmen and sophomores.) The ranking of the freshmen at the time...

1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 7...

That's right, six kids in the #1 rank! The principal said it's the only time they've seen such a thing in the entire history of the school.

 

[tar heel]

Congratulations!

I'm intrigued that you said "a" instead of "the." Does your school have more than one valedictorian?

Our school has done away with it b/c there was so much maneuvering behind the scenes to get that #1. It got really messy when kids transferred in from the high-quality/very expensive prep school b/c it considers all its classes accelerated and worthy of extra quality points. We now have three levels of honor graduates. This is way healthier at our school because before, if your goal was to finish 1 or 2, you couldn't take, say, an arts class no matter how much you loved painting or drama -- you had to stick with things that gave you extra points. With block scheduling, we have eight classes a year, so you really can take a solid academic schedule AND an arts class or two. My ninth grader took Theatre I this year and told me yesterday that he really wanted to take Theatre II instead of the history elective he signed up for. He'll have six honors classes, and I have no problem whatsoever with Theatre II, but he IS sacrificing any chance of being at the very top of his class.

 

[MichelleVW]

Congratulations!

I'm intrigued that you said "a" instead of "the." Does your school have more than one valedictorian?

Our school has done away with it b/c there was so much maneuvering behind the scenes to get that #1. It got really messy when kids transferred in from the high-quality/very expensive prep school b/c it considers all its classes accelerated and worthy of extra quality points. We now have three levels of honor graduates. This is way healthier at our school because before, if your goal was to finish 1 or 2, you couldn't take, say, an arts class no matter how much you loved painting or drama -- you had to stick with things that gave you extra points. With block scheduling, we have eight classes a year, so you really can take a solid academic schedule AND an arts class or two. My ninth grader took Theatre I this year and told me yesterday that he really wanted to take Theatre II instead of the history elective he signed up for. He'll have six honors classes, and I have no problem whatsoever with Theatre II, but he IS sacrificing any chance of being at the very top of his class.

To the Op congrats!!! My DD graduated last night in the top 10% of her class and I know how hard she worked for that!!


That's a bummer that your son can't take Theater II without sacrificing his ranking. The Valedictorian at my DD's school was in theater/band/etc and also in A/P classes with a 4.88 Gpa.

 

[tar heel]

It is sort of a bummer, but I'm okay with it. I think the levels of honors graduates makes it much better, too. He goes to a big school with a lot of very strong students. Most of the academically inclined freshmen took four honors classes but a handful got into two sciences, so they're all at the top now. DS signed up for the double science and didn't get it. I honestly don't think it's that big of a deal since he has three more years of school.

 

[The Princess]

Congrats!!!!!!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

Fantastic accomplishment. Hope it's shown you not to listen to the naysayers and mean spirited people in the world, and to believe in yourself!!

Now! Onward and upward. This really is only the beginning for you. As with all great accomplishments, the next step is planning for the next great accomplishment!

Enjoy your success!

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

Congrats on a job well done!

 

[minniecarousel]

Congratulations! Keep up the good work.

 

[Jennasis]

Congrats! And phooey to the naysayers. Seriously, what loser in their right mind would dash the hopes and dreams of a young stranger over a spelling error? I hope your detractors on the DIS recognize all of this and feel about 2 inches tall for a good long while.

 

[Mermaid02]

FABULOUS!!!

 

[2BOYMOM]

Congratulatons!

 

[coolshannie]

Congratulations!

I'm intrigued that you said "a" instead of "the." Does your school have more than one valedictorian?

Our school has done away with it b/c there was so much maneuvering behind the scenes to get that #1. It got really messy when kids transferred in from the high-quality/very expensive prep school b/c it considers all its classes accelerated and worthy of extra quality points. We now have three levels of honor graduates. This is way healthier at our school because before, if your goal was to finish 1 or 2, you couldn't take, say, an arts class no matter how much you loved painting or drama -- you had to stick with things that gave you extra points. With block scheduling, we have eight classes a year, so you really can take a solid academic schedule AND an arts class or two. My ninth grader took Theatre I this year and told me yesterday that he really wanted to take Theatre II instead of the history elective he signed up for. He'll have six honors classes, and I have no problem whatsoever with Theatre II, but he IS sacrificing any chance of being at the very top of his class.

We have 10 Valedictorians this year, but unfortunately the district has either already changed the policy for next year's incoming Senior class as to becoming a Valedictorian or they changed it for the incoming Freshmen class. Either way the change in the system now makes it so that the person with the highest GPA will now be Valedictorian. The system that is in place now says you must take all honors, take at least two AP classes, and have a 4.7 GPA. I find so many things sad with what they are doing. We have the IB program at our school and many of my friends went that route and are also Valedictorian. That program is so rigorous and difficult and I believe if they are going to work so hard they shouldn't be taking extra classes through virtual high school or what have you to bump somebody out so they can maintain their dream of Valedictorian. What is even worse is that people who are going for Valedictorian will be dropping out of the amazing music programs at our school so they can get a higher gpa taking an AP or IB class. To me that would be the deal breaker. Music classes were something I lived for because they taught so much more then music and I just think it is a sad day when kids are going to have to choose between playing in the band or orchestra and pursuing academic dreams.

I forgot to add... Good for your son wanting to take Theatre II, classes like that are what make us all better people. Learning to work with people and becoming close to people through something you all love to do is such an amazing thing. Fine arts are just as important as any other class offered. They truly teach so much more then just the skill of theatre or singing or music; they teach valuable life lessons.


Thank you all for your kind words and encouragement. I am actually all signed up to start my major in Elementary Education in the fall and I am very excited about it!