Jonathan Zhang is officially the new valedictorian at Eagle High. His hard work and dedication to his academics throughout his time at Eagle has officially paid off.
Zhang, throughout his time at Eagle High, has accumulated vast knowledge and experience in all the realms of his life. As he reflects on his time in high school, he is reminded of all the hard work and grit that got him to where he is, accompanied by a positive outlook that has shaped him as a person and contributed to his success.
Countless amounts of hours and hard work have been poured into Zhang’s success. Things like his academic success and personal achievements did not only shine at Eagle High earning him valedictorian but also contributed to him being accepted to top universities across the country. After all his hard work, he has been accepted to one of the top universities in the nation, John’s Hopkins University, where he plans to attend next fall.
At Eagle High, Zhang has taken a plethora of AP classes and took part in many extracurricular activities, which all eventually were part of the path towards earning valedictorian.
Earning valedictorian is a major accomplishment in one’s life, it does not just take knowledge or smarts, it takes a well-rounded individual in all aspects of life that understands more than just merely academics.
“While I’ve worked hard, what set me apart wasn’t just individual effort, but the environment around me. My friends taught me balance. My parents taught me discipline. My faith taught me purpose,” Zhang said. “Being surrounded by people who modeled those values shaped and pushed me to be better.”
One thing that many high schoolers struggle with is burnout, and Zhang’s success leads one to wonder how he avoided such burnout. Zhang approached the concept of burnout with intentionality and perseverance.
“Paradoxically, I actually found that the best way to avoid burnout isn’t by doing less, but by being more intentional with your rhythm,” Zhang said. “A more stacked schedule helps me to be more efficient and account for my time, forcing me to respect my deadlines and stay mindful.”
Sure, there was likely many stressful times for Zhang, but as he reflects on his years at Eagle High and accumulates advice for underclassmen, he reflects on how one of the pathways to his success was not letting stress cloud his life.
“I believe that you shouldn’t be in a constant state of stress, more of the opposite,” Zhang said. “Unless it’s during AP exams, college applications, or something of a similar nature, don’t prioritize academics over social life.”
Sometimes placing a great amount of pressure on performing well academically may be more detrimental than beneficial Zhang explained. One of the best ways he has found success is by trying to eliminate stress as much as possible and live in the present.
Zhang deeply values living in the present and encourages his fellow students to not dwell in the past or to worry about the future but instead focus on what is happening now. Zhang does his best to not focus on regrets of the past so that he can continue towards his bright future.
“Dwelling on the past can hold you back too much,” Zhang said. “There are obviously many things that I could have done better. However, every experience good or bad helped shape who I am today, and who I strive to be as I head into my next chapter.”
As Zhang moves on from Eagle High school, he said that returning Eagle high students should not place all their stress in their academics, rather invest in their own personal strengths and passions, resulting in the academic piece coming naturally.
“Don’t have academics as a goal in itself; academics are important, but they should be the byproduct of your larger goal, not your focal point,” Zhang said. “Focus on making a meaningful impact in your community and seeking opportunities where they present themselves. If you have that mindset, the grades will naturally follow.”
Overtime, he has accumulated vast amounts of knowledge and valuable advice for his fellow peers. But most importantly, he has grown in many ways, much more than just academically.
Overall, Zhang did not become valedictorian because of just one thing, he became valedictorian because he is an individual composed of many admirable aspects. He has shown major accomplishment in both academics’ perseverance throughout his time at Eagle High, which in turn has earned him the title of valedictorian.
