Out of all awards, prestige and status that come to mind, two of the greatest honors a high school student can receive are the titles of valedictorian and salutatorian. These honors are bestowed onto the top two students with the highest cumulative weighted grade point average at the end of junior year. At NHP, Aparna Shibu and Nathaniel Park were named valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively. These two distinguished individuals were interviewed on their journey at NHP and how they accomplished so much.
Q: What do you believe contributed to your success, and how did you achieve this?
Nathaniel Park: To be honest, I wasn’t the typical “nerd” taking a lot of AP classes. I just enjoyed all of the classes I took, and made sure to focus in class and do what I had to do every day to ensure I had a good understanding of the content, which contributed to me being able to get good grades. My motto throughout school was to do my best no matter what.
Aparna Shibu: My successful journey at NHP would undoubtedly be credited to the combined efforts of all my teachers and parents, who have helped me every step of the way. I wouldn’t lie when I say I had dreamed of becoming valedictorian since 7th grade. Still, I knew it was not only an honor to be at the top of my class but also to discover my unforeseen passions and interests that shaped me into who I am today. A part of becoming a good student is not only getting good grades but also being able to accept your failures and mistakes and cultivating a love for learning and improving. And that’s why I am so beyond lucky to have had teachers that have never given up on me and taught me the value of my education. As for my parents, they have always pointed out my great potential to work hard to achieve goals and dreams I would have thought impossible. While I’ve faced numerous setbacks, I always pursued passions that uplifted me every day, like my passion for singing and simply spending time with my loved ones.
Q: When and where were you told that you were the valedictorian and salutatorian of the school? How did you feel after this achievement, and what was going through your mind?
NP: I was actually notified beforehand to have this little breakfast with Dr. Faccio before school. I wasn’t told what for, so I walked into his office with zero clue about what was going to happen. Then he gave us our transcripts and we were told [Aparna and I] that we were [valedictorian] and [salutatorian]. Dr. Faccio then also made an announcement on the loudspeaker. When this was being broadcasted to the entire school, I was completely shocked because I never thought I would be the salutatorian, but it was a very moving experience and definitely something I will always remember.
AS: Initially, I was in my fifth-period AP Government class looking through my emails when I received an email from the Main Office that said, “You’re invited to Dr. Faccio’s office on Friday, October 6, at 8:00 am for a special recognition,” and asked that I pick up a pass. It didn’t cross my mind that it would have anything to do with Val and Sal until I saw only two passes in the Main Office. Even then, I thought it was some random award I was getting until my parents told me they got a call from my counselor asking that they come in the following day to participate in my special recognition. At this point, I didn’t tell anyone and went to the office with my parents when I saw that it was just Nathaniel and us with his parents. Then Dr. Faccio invited us into his office with other counselors, and the first thing I noticed was a table with donuts and chocolates, with two transcripts at the end of the table. At this point, I had to convince myself we were being announced as Val and Sal. With our parents by our side, my heart genuinely melted because it was a dream come true, and seeing our parents smile and hold our hands made it even more special. Even when Dr. Faccio announced it to the whole school, it didn’t hit me until Ms. Katz came in crying and hugged me. Walking up to class, it felt so special to be welcomed with hugs and kisses by my friends and teachers, all coming to visit and congratulate me throughout the day.
Q: In your journey to becoming Val and Sal, what setbacks did you face? How did you overcome these obstacles?
NP: To be honest, I never strove to achieve one of these titles. I never thought of trying to become a Val or Sal so I never had any setbacks since it wasn’t a goal of mine. However, there were times where I struggled to find motivation to study for certain classes, but as Mr. Testa says, “do it and do it again.” So, I just told myself I have to do it, because only I can make myself succeed.
AS: Of all my years at NHP, junior year was the most academically and emotionally challenging. Junior year was the last year that counted towards our GPA, so collectively, it was our peak of being “try-hards” while also finding time to enjoy the things we cared about, like hanging out with friends/family, attending school events, etc. The workload for all my APs was quite the weight on my shoulders. While I would pull an all-nighter to study for AP Bio tests or even finish SI works for my AP Drawing class, I became a night owl and survived on 3 hours of sleep most days. My main priority was to maintain good grades in all my classes. Still, I also relentlessly dedicated time to extracurriculars as I would sing in different states every weekend, volunteer and shadow at hospitals, and take leadership as a part of clubs and teams like Step Team and the SPEC club. As I reflect on the things I did as a junior, I cannot believe the number of things I did and the stress I went through with everything, but what kept me going forward was the love that I had for learning, growing as an individual in my community and doing what I loved to do. At the end of the day, the hope of getting one step closer to achieving my dream of becoming Val and a role model motivated me.
Q: Do you have any tips for other students? What’s some advice you’d give someone trying to achieve a dream like this?
NP: Don’t be too hard on yourself. Just do your best and if you mess up, just make up for it. Don’t hate on yourself, because you are your greatest supporter.
AS:
- Stay Focused. If you dream of being at the top of your class, focusing on your education and exploring yourself as a student is essential. I was never a perfect student, but along the way, I acquired numerous skills that made me a better student and optimized my experience learning with my peers. This doesn’t mean being a complete nerd because it is natural to be lazy and unmotivated sometimes. But don’t lose sight of your goals, both short and long-term.
- Manage your time. People know I didn’t sit at home and study for 6+ hours. I was always involved in numerous clubs as an officer, volunteering in a hospital, and dedicating hours of rehearsing for singing and dancing events. So I was practically doing EVERYTHING, and my parents were sometimes concerned with everything I had to keep on top of. But I always found time for everything with the support of my parents, friends and people at NHP.
- Relax. High school can be rough and quite taxing both physically and emotionally. But it is essential to find the time to relax and do the things you love, whether taking a nap, traveling, spending time with loved ones, etc. What matters is finding your solace in life.
- Do what you love. While following what most people do is practical, also know what you love. In my junior year, I always wanted to take an AP Art class along with my other academic courses, but with the workload I anticipated, almost everyone told me it would be a bad idea. Yet here I am! Taking AP Drawing alleviated my stress and enhanced my drawing talent (I even sold one of my artworks!)
- Always have hope. Understand that only some things will come as expected. Learn from your experiences and work even harder to achieve your goals because you might get something bigger than you ever imagined.
Q: How do you believe the work you’ve done will impact your future? What are your plans after graduation and college?
NP: I believe that the work I’ve done is definitely a good starting point and built a good mentality for me going forward. However, it is something I look forward to continuing improving. In college I hope to find myself, and what I truly want to be in the future.
AS: As a proud student of NHP, I believe I’ve left my mark and brought smiles to those who needed it. After graduation, I’m beyond excited to take my first step in pursuing my pre-med education, and I dream of becoming a surgeon one day. Also, I’ll continue to embrace my culture through singing and dancing and slowly start my journey of learning Event Management on the side.
