The student who is selected as Valedictorian will have the benefit of coaching and guidance on how to polish the speech and prepare it for delivery at the ceremony. If you want to know how to become valedictorian, then the first thing you need to ask yourself is “Why?” For some people, it’s an external reason, like wanting to please their family. For others, it’s an internal reason, like simply wanting the achievement for themselves. Whatever the reasons may be, you really should only pursue this goal if it’s truly something you want. After all, you will be the one putting in most of the hard work and not the others, so do some reflection to see if this is right for you.

Valedictorian may be the top honor, but your class rank still might be important even if you’re not number one. Learn more about what a good class rank is in this article. You’ll also be recognized for all of your hard work and get to deliver a speech to your entire class. It’s a great opportunity to tell some hilarious jokes and/or send a meaningful message. I would recommend telling jokes because you’ll be remembered as the only non-boring part of graduation. If the thought of giving a speech makes you want to puke, then this might not be a plus, but it really is a good chance for you to be honest and share your reflections on the last four years.

But having a few good friendships, or taking the time to blow off steam at the prom, is a good way to keep everything balanced. You need hours for activities outside of your studies. Remember lemoyne acceptance rate that whether you’re in high school or college, these years are crucial to your social development too. If you’re aiming for class valedictorian, choose Italian as your language elective!

Some things you’ll have to do as you grow as a student are simple things, like handing your work in on time and making sure it’s correct. It also involves taking the time to review topics that you don’t quite understand and meet with your teacher until you feel confident in the material. You’ll have to make sure you spend more time studying than watching TV, and you may have to be willing to give up some things you enjoy doing in the meantime. This all starts with building good habits and having some self-discipline. Figure out what will motivate you to work hard, whether it’s rewarding yourself with a treat every so often, or taking a break from studying. It will also be important to seek advice and support from family and friends, so they can help make sure you stay on track.

Your goal should motivate you to stay engaged in your school work and challenge yourself, but it shouldn’t make you break down in tears because you have to spend eight hours on homework every night. Only you know what your limits are and what you can handle. If you push your intellectual boundaries and maintain high grades, you will be accepted to some great colleges whether or not you end up becoming valedictorian. Be aware of your competition, but don’t obsess about rivals. You don’t want to waste time on narcissism and nervous back-stabbing. Don’t go around asking your rivals what they got on their tests, how much time they spent studying for the latest exam, or what grade they think they’re going to get in a class.

Taking honors and AP courses allows you to explore subjects in-depth, while also giving yourself an extra boost when it comes time for college applications. Valedictorian is the academic title given to the top student in a graduating class, which is usually based on the student with the highest grade point average. If you have your sights set on the title of high school valedictorian, you should be prepared to challenge yourself.

Once in the exam room, I heard classmates quizzing each other on their notes and I panicked. I whipped open my notebook and began trying to digest names, quotes, dates, and places until I realized that everything might as well have been written in ancient Greek. As my professor began passing out exam books, a lump rose in my throat and my eyes pooled with tears. Forget being proud of myself for the fact that I was going to be the first woman in my whole extended family to graduate from a four-year college, let alone graduating at the top of my class.

Make sure you mark tests, presentations, quizzes, and any other crucial dates on the calendar. It’s also crucial, because it helps you bond with the teacher. If the teacher doesn’t know your name, face, or voice, they may not be as subconsciously inclined to help you. But if they know you’re an enthusiastic participant that truly cares about the work, they’re more likely to help you when you need it. Many students assume that if they do the work, they’ll be okay. However, this isn’t true in school and often isn’t true in the post-collegiate workplace, either.

Salutatorian is the academic title conferred upon the second highest ranking student in the class. In addition to the honour of representing their graduating class, valedictorians receive the John and Heather Fitzpatrick Valedictorian Award. This award was established in 2006 through the generosity of alumnus John Fitzpatrick BA’81 and his wife and long-time staff and supporter, Heather. John graduated with a BA in Political Science from Saint Mary’s University and an LLB from Dalhousie University Schulich School of Law.