All students ranked in the top ten met for breakfast in the New Lecture Hall with their family and members of staff for the morning of May 2. The last day for all seniors is May 16, the graduation ceremony will happen on May 21.
“It feels good to be recognized because [I’ve] been putting in the work for four years, and now getting something out of it,” senior Leo Zheng said.
Every senior attending this breakfast has the highest grade point averages (GPA’s) in the senior class within the school, ending the year with over 4.0’s.
“Rank was not a big motivator for me or anything,” senior Manu Yenikapati said. “I just wanted to do well in trying to learn stuff, and I ended up getting [rank 7].”
Different methods of completing and managing classwork were used by these students, some cited support systems.
“I feel like my friends, teachers, and support of my parents really helped me get here,” senior Keerthana Mangalpally said. “I did not initially try for [top ten] in particular, but by working hard at school and studying, I got here.”
Other students suggested work ethic was the largest reason for their success in school and grades.
“Work ethic feels like giving your best in everything that you do,” senior Kanishk Sama said. “It feels good now, nice to know that all my hard work paid off.”
A few of these seniors also had extracurriculars adding to their experiences in highschool, such as academic commitments.
“All the trips I’ve been on with my friends have been really good in shaping me,” senior Krithik Sama said. “I was able to do [DECA trips] in my sophomore and junior years, which was really fun, and I got to meet a lot of new people as part of the robotics club.”
Others had athletic activities they participated in throughout their years within school for their enjoyment, filling their freetime with school related extracurriculars.
“When I did band, cross country, and ultimate frisbee, it used up all my freetime, but it wasn’t a problem because I would have chosen to do those in my free time anyway so it did not feel like a chore,” senior Andy Zhou said. “So, when I wasn’t at school doing those activities, I would be working on homework and on weekends I’d relax.”
Many of the seniors plan to attend various colleges throughout the country, but a number are dedicated to using their rank to admit themselves into the University of Texas at Austin.
“I got into their honors program which combines business and engineering,” Krithik said. “I’m interested in both and I participate in activities in both disciplines in high school, I want to continue that in college.”
All the top ten seniors will sit atop the stage for the senior graduation ceremony, with both the valedictorian and salutatorian giving speeches during the ceremony.
“I’m very excited for when I get to sit on the stage and say goodbye to everyone,” senior Emily Joseph said.
