As some of you know, I was valedictorian of Stafford High School in 2002.  I did not strive for this top spot but simply diligently performed (and definitely with my parents taking care of everything else, including chores and food and driving).  Sapna was the salutatorian, and then it was Henry, Sarah, and then Kuan I think.  During prom, he was voted as the male “Most Likely to Succeed”, as I was voted the female recipient.  I remember Elliot asking about success, and then eventually saying I would definitely succeed, not in money or wealth, but in life in however I see myself succeeding.  Elliot, always the one to think beyond the surface :)  I have to say it was pretty awesome to get it since, for example, Henry really wanted to be #1 LOL.  More importantly, I got some money from the state, and it was probably also the reason why I received the HLSR scholarship.  People congratulate me…but not to diminish the honor, I’m sure if I went to another school I wouldn’t have received it.  I mean, all four years I took P.E. (since I knew I wouldn’t exercise any other way) and my senior year I took a lot of office aid and basically blow-off classes, while in other schools you have to be cutthroat with the honors/AP/advanced classes to the very end.  If it was between Hannah and me, it would’ve been Hannah ;-)  I didn’t really do much extracurricular either, although I guess I looked pretty good on paper:  NHS historian, Science Club president, secretary, PR, and I volunteered a lot with Mansi.  I probably would’ve gotten into Rice, too, since Sapna got in (I didn’t apply; I just figured save the hassle since I knew I’d automatically get into UT Austin and I didn’t want to live too close to home :-P).  One thing for sure, though, that I knew school was nothing like work.  Also, I really don’t have ambitions.  If asked about my career choice or my goals for the future, I would not have been able to answer anything, let alone how specific some of the following local chron.com valedictorians/salutatorians this year have answered:

  • “To become a doctor and go back to the Philippines and volunteer a couple months of my time to help hospitals in need.”
  • “To one day be appointed to a federal judge position. I want to prove to my family and others from single-parent households that anything to which they set their minds can be achieved no matter their socio-economic or cultural circumstance.”
  • “To get a co-op with NASA and eventually work there.”
  • “While a career in politics seems increasingly intriguing and isn’t completely impossible in my future, my main goal at the moment is receive a masters in art history and to return to Houston’s Menil Collection. I simply adore their varied collection of art and would be deeply honored to work there later in life.”
  • “I want to write for a major paper or go to med school.”
  • “I want to go to medical school to become a craniofacial surgeon.”
  • “I will try to come back to my community and help out the people that supported me. I want to help my parents and start a college fund for my younger sister.”
  • “I believe in giving back to the community that gave to me. I would like to thank my parents. They have driven me to succeed in life.Without them I wouldn’t be the person that I am today.”
  • “To be accepted into medical school to become a doctor.”
  • “I want to attend Texas A&M and own my own business.”
  • “College, in preparation for a successful business career.”
  • “College, then a career including psychology and social work.”
  • “Attend college, pursue a career in human resource/management, have a family, and become involved in my church and community.”
  • “I would like to someday write musical scores for film and television”
  • “I want to be a pharmacist.”
  • “I want to be a doctor of internal medicine.”
  • “I plan to major in psychology or fine arts (graphic design).”
  • “I want to go to medical school. My career goal is to be a surgeon and make a difference in the world.”
  • “I want to attend law school focusing on corporate law. My goal is to be a lawyer for a major corporation.”
  • “To work at a chemical company and eventually become the plant manager.”
  • “I want to graduate from University of Texas in Austin, and hope to make it into the prestigious Baylor College of Medicine to become a cardiac surgeon.”
  • “I hope to develop programs that will benefit others and improve the quality of their lives.
  • “I want to graduate from college and be a successful engineer.”
  •  ”I want to teach music at the college level.”
  • “I want to be successful in life and to be able to help as many people as I can.”
  • “I want to obtain my bachelor’s and master’s degree on mechanical engineering, work for a large company and eventually be my own boss”
  • To teach children with learning disabilities.
  • To become a doctor of pharmacy and research and develop cures for diseases such as cancer, AIDS and diabetes.
  • To work in finance and government.
  • Attend graduate school, get a good job and start a family
  • To live a happy life, start a family and make a difference in the world.
  • To major in human biology and become an optometrist.
  • To earn a doctorate in theoretical mathematics and statistical analysis and attend law school and to open a law firm in the Sudan and Afghanistan for oppressed women and children.
  • Architecture or creative writing; “Establish myself in the University of Houston’s Honors College.”
  • Finance; “To eventually run my own business one day.”
  • General practitioner; Medical research.
  • Registered Nurse Cardiothoracic; Excel in college, international field research.
  • Bioengineering, pre-med track to medical school; To have an enjoyable job, surrounded by people I love and trust … living on the East Coast with at least two dogs.
  • Finance or marketing; Get a job where I can help people, possibly a teacher and basketball coach, and have a family.
  • Pediatrician; To find something that I really love that helps other people and makes a difference in our world.
  • Science or medical field; Study abroad, graduate school, experience other cultures around the globe while applying my field of study and knowledge.
  • Broadcast journalism; To work with a major television station.
  • Biomedical or chemical engineering; To become a pediatric specialist, possibly in oncology.
  • Orthopedic sports medicine; To work in a career I am passionate about. To continue to build valuable relationships with friends and family and have a positive impact on the lives of people I come in contact with.
  • Doctor; To open a clinic for people with low income and find a cure for hepatitis C so that I can cure my mother of this disease.
  • Computer science and electrical engineering; To create a high-tech company.
  • To become a lawyer or work for Coca-Cola Co.
  • Nephrology (surgery); To work with Doctors Without Borders, focusing on AIDS and kidney disease research.
  • Biochemistry; To become a sports physician.
  • Business; To open a non-interest bank.
  • Optometry or dentistry; To open her own practice, and volunteer at hospitals and low-income health centers.
  • Politics; To attend law school and specialize in constitutional or corporate law.

Other notes: