Grads making the grade
Torrey AndersonSchoepe
A musician, and scientist and a linguist. They may seem completely
different, but they all have one thing in common -- they have the
highest grade-point average in their school, and they all worked very
hard to get it.
More than 300 Laguna Beach High School seniors donned caps and
gowns Thursday to receive their diplomas.
For GPAs of at least 4.7 each, Will Sherman, Joy Henderson, and
Correy Miller have worked very hard over their high school years and
share the honor of being named valedictorians of Laguna Beach’s Class
of 2005.
Sherman, the scholar of scholars, has the highest GPA -- 4.74. He
accomplished this after having taken all honors classes since he came
to Laguna Beach High School as a sophomore from Salt Lake City, Utah.
“It was stressful, but I managed my time well,” Sherman said.
Sherman’s graduation speech describes how Laguna Beach has
affected his life in a positive way, and he also gives students some
advice for the future.
His speech begins with a self-description: “Clearly I am not what
most people expect a valedictorian to look like.
“When I think of valedictorians, I think of someone who sits in
front of his computer in his parents’ basement and studies himself
blind. I’m sure those of you sitting in the audience that have never
met me are wondering what the hell this guy with long hair who wears
heavy metal shirts is doing pretending to be the valedictorian.”
He continues, “Well, I suppose I’m living proof that there’s no
such thing as a typical valedictorian and that appearances are
superficial.”
Coming from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Laguna Beach was a big,
positive change for him.
“The Laguna Beach teachers not only know their students’ names but
also something about them. The teachers actually care about the
students and love to teach,” he explained, “My teachers [in Utah]
knew me only by my name on a seating chart.”
The rest of his speech focuses mainly on the idea to pursue your
passion. He ends his speech on that same idea, “Take chances, and
follow your passions. Or, as Confucius said, ‘Wheresoever you go, go
with all your heart.’”
He aspires to be a musician, and will attend UCLA next year. He
plays the guitar in his free time. It is his hobby and his passion.
“I want to be a musician, musicology, specifically. I would like
to do composing and theory, and maybe piano,” he said. His musical
style includes heavy metal, rock and jazz.
His favorite memories from school are mainly fun lab projects in
chemistry class.
“In chemistry we got to make fireworks and smoke bombs; that was
fun,” he said. “And the teachers were really good compared to my last
school.”
Joy Henderson, the second of the three valedictorians will be
attending Emory University. Joy loves science. Her two favorite
subjects are physics and chemistry. She played varsity volleyball all
four years, and she plans to continue at the club level in college.
She attained a 4.7 GPA by taking as many honors and
advanced-placement classes as possible.
When asked how she managed it all, she replied, “Well, family has
always been a priority for me, and school was another big priority, I
guess I just set up my priorities and followed them through.”
Her favorite memories from high school are her friendships and
random moments with her friends.
“I am a beach bum. I love going to the beach, swimming and body
surfing,” she said.
Correy Miller, the other valedictorian, is also a beach lover. Her
other interests include tennis, swing dancing, shopping, traveling
and languages.
As an international-languages enthusiast, Miller wants to major in
Spanish at Berkeley, which she will attend this fall.
Her favorite teachers have inspired her.
“Mrs. Dunlop, who teaches English, and Senora Ortiz, they really
know their subject, and they want us to learn, which is very
important,” said Miller. “They care about their students a lot. Some
teachers really couldn’t care less.”
Miller was able to maintain a 4.7 by working hard, and creating a
very rigorous schedule.
“I basically took all the honors classes that I could, and I think
I only got one B in high school. I worked really hard.”
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