IN THEIR OWN WORDS: Bibb County Valedictorians reflect on high school and what’s next

What actually gets a kid to the top of their class? And what do they wish someone had told them along the way? This year, we asked local  valedictorians — not about their GPA or their college plans, but about mindset, resilience and the stuff high school teaches you that has nothing to do with a textbook. What came back was candid and worth reading — for all ages.

Westside High School

Q: What habit or mindset made the biggest difference in your success?

A: The mindset that made the biggest difference in my success is most likely my feeling of responsibility. Basically, if there is work to be done, I will complete it to the best of my ability and do it on time. Even if I end up going over the due date, I try to make sure those missing assignments are dealt with ASAP.

Q: What does success look like to you, and has that changed?

A: To me, success looks like having a mostly financially stable and fulfilling life. For a person to be successful in my eyes, they must be able to fulfill their needs first and have a lifestyle that’s enjoyable to them second. My definition of success did change, as I used to think that you needed to be rich and famous to be considered successful, but I feel that, later on, that definition is too narrow for my liking.

Q: What’s one thing you’d tell an incoming freshman that no one told you?

A: Write a to-do list for your classes. I find that it helps me not only keep track of my assignments but also allows me to keep them in my mind for longer. It doesn’t matter if it is a physical planner, or a digital notepad, just write something that you can put your tasks on and check off when you finish them! Having a universal to-do list also helps organize work assigned to you from different platforms, making it harder to forget about that review that is assigned in Progress Learning instead of Canvas, for example.

Q: What do adults consistently get wrong about your generation?

A: That we are too lazy. This isn’t true, since some people I know are working part-time jobs to pay for their own expenses and bills while they are still in high school. Furthermore, there’s also people in my age group who are more talented than I, as they make impressive drawings, compose funky music and train hard to win a match in sports.

Q: What is the biggest challenge facing your generation?

A: The biggest challenge facing our generation is most likely the affordability and high cost of living independently. This is due to the price of groceries getting more expensive as time goes on, along with other necessary expenses, like gas and utility bills in certain states.

Mount de Sales Academy 

Q: What habit or mindset made the biggest difference in your success?

That you just have to make things exist first, and you can make them good later. Taking the pressure off myself to do something perfectly — or even correctly — on the first try helped me immensely to take small steps and eventually progress more.

Q: What did high school teach you that had nothing to do with class?

A: Sometimes, the people who can help you the most are hiding in plain sight. If you don’t know where you’re going or what you believe in, you might not notice them. Pay attention to those around you, and give everyone a chance to be heard.

Q: What does success look like to you, and has that changed?

A: Success to me is to be able to use your skillset to make your environment better. I used to think success meant being the best, or the smartest, but I now realize that it means to leave an impact that is going to outlast you — a legacy.

Q: What’s one thing you’d tell an incoming freshman that no one told you? 

A: Don’t sacrifice your friends for your schoolwork, but don’t give up your work ethic to be included. If you cross your own moral lines, then you’ve got to bear that emotional burden, and the only person you can never avoid is yourself.

Q: What do adults consistently get wrong about your generation?

A: I think we are oftentimes misperceived as lazy. I find that it is not that my generation is lazy, but rather that we are punished if we are too effective. If all my work is done early, I get more work, or some form of busy work so that we’re not free for too long. If students had more freedom to learn at their own pace and study topics that they’re interested in, they would come off as less lazy.

First Presbyterian Day School

Q: What habit or mindset made the biggest difference in your success?

A: I cannot speak to the habits of others, just what I do to prepare. I believe that one of the most important skills for a high-level student is critical thinking. There is a tenacity required to take a subject matter, dissect it and understand the material at a deeper level. [That] is vital not only in the classroom, but in any intellectual pursuits. Whether this is done through rewriting notes, group discussions, or vigorous flipping of thousands of flashcards, it doesn’t matter. All that matters is that someone makes the facts they hear their own so they can then draw more well-reasoned inferences and conclusions.

Q: What did high school teach you that had nothing to do with class? 

The value of curiosity cannot be overstated. Whenever we had our season-opening meeting for FPD’s high school robotics team, for which I have been the captain for three years, I always iterated that the most important attribute I need in a team member is an ability to think for oneself. You can teach someone to program, and you can teach someone how to use a drill, but you can’t teach someone to be curious. That is up to the student.

Q: What does success look like to you, and has that changed? 

A: Success for me is putting 100% of oneself into an endeavor such that, no matter what the outcome is, I can be proud of my effort. This is a relatively new philosophy for me. I used to find myself being defined more by the grade on the paper than the effort that I put in to make that grade. While my 100% allowed me to achieve this award, the accolade itself doesn’t define my success, it simply symbolizes it.

Q: What’s one thing you’d tell an incoming freshman that no one told you?

A: Your identity is not rooted in your academic success. While it is certainly a facet of who you are, it should never define you.

Q: What do adults consistently get wrong about your generation?

A: That we don’t know what Blockbuster and landlines are.

VIP Academy

Q: What habit or mindset made the biggest difference in your success?

A: The mindset that made the biggest difference in my success is learning to believe in myself, even when others didn’t fully understand me. Once I stopped trying to fit into other people’s expectations and focused on being confident in who I am, everything changed. I became more motivated, more focused and more willing to push myself because I wasn’t holding myself back anymore. It allowed me to meet so many cool people also!

Q: What does success look like to you, and has that changed?

A: Success to me used to only look like having good grades and continuing to do my very best in school. Even though that still hasn’t changed, I’ve discovered a new meaning of success over time. My definition of success has changed. Now, success means being happy with the person I’ve always needed to be, growing as a person, showing up for myself and creating a life that feels genuine to me. It’s not just about achievements, but it’s also about peace, confidence and living authentically.

Q: What’s one thing you’d tell an incoming freshman that no one told you?

A: I would tell them not to lose themselves trying to fit in, And do not feel as though you are behind on life or anything at all. High school can make it feel like you must change who you are to be accepted, or you must set specific types of goals to succeed in life. But the right people will appreciate you for being yourself and will respect your personal growth. Then, that way, you can be sure of what you’d like to be when you grow up, and also not let anyone’s opinion on your life hinder you!

Q: What do adults consistently get wrong about your generation?

A: I think adults often assume that my generation is distracted or doesn’t care. But, in reality, we care deeply. We just express it differently. We’re more open about our identities, our struggles and what we believe in. We’re not afraid to speak up, and that can sometimes be misunderstood as disrespect instead of confidence and awareness.

Q: What is the biggest challenge facing your generation?

A: Dealing with constant judgment and pressure, whether it’s from our peers or the outside world. There’s always an expectation to look a certain way, act a certain way or live up to unrealistic standards. At the same time, we’re trying to figure out who we are in a world that’s always watching and opinionated, which can make it harder to feel secure in ourselves.

Southwest High School

Q: What habit or mindset made the biggest difference in your success?

A: Throughout my high school career, I had to learn the benefits of managing my time wisely, especially when I was involved in so many different extracurricular activities. While I, at first, strived for the academic validation, I had to realize that my intelligence could only be used when my body felt safe and energized enough to do so. By allowing myself to finally take the time to be proud of my achievements, I realized how much lighter I felt when I let go and let God. I often tried to handle things myself and became overwhelmed with stress, but learning a healthy balance between school and self-care became important to my daily lifestyle. 

Q: What does success look like to you, and has that changed?

A: If I had been asked about this years ago, I would say that it depended on my accolades, but today I’m here to say that this has changed drastically. I often didn’t give myself the credit I deserved because things felt so natural, but learning that every moment should be celebrated changed my perspective entirely. By learning to celebrate the wins AND losses that occurred in my life, I endured so many more blessings. I was able to see that every individual moment was important and had a purpose. To me, success is more than just how many times we win. It’s the number of times we can turn our losses into lessons and how we use those lessons to encourage others. Success can mean so many things, and I believe that every person’s definition of it differs.

Q: What’s one thing you’d tell an incoming freshman that no one told you?

A: I would tell them to take self-care seriously because we often take our mental health for granted. Once you ruin yourself, it’s hard to get that version of you back, so it is important to cherish any bit of nostalgia, empathy and childlike memories that you have. Take the time to enjoy every moment because it will be over before you know it and that innocent version of you that only had to worry about learning how to tie your shoes will no longer exist at some point. Unless you dedicate space for that innocence and allow that healed version of you to roam free, you may just ruin the building blocks of your entire personality.

Q: What do adults consistently get wrong about your generation?

A: I believe that adults usually consider us lazy when in reality the state of the world right now [affects] us just as much as them. Many students are working jobs in high school while having to take on parent roles in the household, turn in work on time, and some aren’t even given the ability to speak on their own behalf, which, in turn, lessens the development of social skills. I believe that we as students should be given platforms to voice our opinions, talk about our mental health, and express that we are tired sometimes because life can be a lot and that is OK. Coming from someone who is both an overachiever and a perfectionist, I feel it is safe to say that there are many other amazing students waiting for their moment to feel heard as well who are just waiting for at least one listening ear.

Q: What is the biggest challenge facing your generation?

A: Our ability to properly uplift each other without facing backlash. I believe that a lot of today’s social media has influenced us to always be in competition with each other instead of applauding others for doing a great job, and it has hindered our ability to converse with each other. I think giving all students the opportunity to feel seen, heard and loved will allow us a greater chance at combatting this issue.

Central High School

Q: What habit or mindset made the biggest difference in your success?

A: Consistency combined with growth. Throughout high school — whether in academics, orchestra or at work — I’ve learned to stay committed even when things become challenging rather than becoming discouraged by setbacks. This mindset helped me push through demanding IB (International Baccalaureate) coursework, prepare for college and scholarship applications, continually improve as a violinist over more than 12 years of practice, and hold various jobs during my time as a high school student. 

Q: What does success look like to you, and has that changed?

A: I believe success is not something that can be defined in only one way, but instead can come in many forms. To me, success is about creating positive change, which is something I try to focus on as I continue growing into adulthood. My perspective has changed a lot over time. Earlier in high school, I viewed success in a very analytical way, where results needed to be clear and measurable. As I’ve matured, I’ve realized that success looks different for everyone, and it shouldn’t be judged in a strict or narrow way. I now believe that removing judgment allows for more growth and a better understanding of people’s individual journeys.

Q: What’s one thing you’d tell an incoming freshman that no one told you?

A: Be open to all opportunities that are made available to you. Even if you feel uncomfortable expressing yourself in a new space, this is a necessary step to becoming a part of the high school community and relationships that you build in your freshman year will follow past high school.

Q: What do adults consistently get wrong about your generation?

A: Misjudgment of the impact of COVID-19. Adults often assume that children who missed out on vital schooling years because of the pandemic are stunted in their academic growth. However, if anything, the pandemic gave us the ability to adapt and become flexible. All of which are valuable skills when navigating life after high school. A lack of teachers during those couple of years did not make us less disciplined, it gave us the opportunity to learn how to work in a way that was efficient and sustainable.

Q: What is the biggest challenge facing your generation?

A: Adapting to a job market that is being rapidly reshaped by artificial intelligence. AI is changing the way many industries operate, automating tasks that used to require human input and shifting the skills that are most in demand. Because of this, there is a real uncertainty about what certain careers will look like by the time we fully enter the workforce. For my generation, the challenge is not just competing for jobs, but learning how to stay relevant in an environment where technology is evolving so quickly. It means we will likely have to continuously adapt, retrain and develop skills that AI cannot easily replace, such as creativity, critical thinking, leadership and emotional intelligence. These skills are the foundation of Central High School, which means that my class is well prepared for an increasingly demanding job market.

Northeast High School

Q: What habit or mindset made the biggest difference in your success?

A: Consistency. Even when I didn’t feel motivated, I kept showing up and putting in effort. Over time, those small daily actions added up and helped me improve and stay on track toward my goals.

Q: What does success look like to you, and has that changed?

A: Success to me used to mean getting good grades and recognition from others. Now, it has changed to being more about personal growth, balance and feeling proud of my effort. I value learning, improving and becoming a better version of myself more than just results.

Q: What’s one thing you’d tell an incoming freshman that no one told you?

A: Make sure to join clubs and sports. Being more open to doing something you haven’t done will help you find your voice and meet people that you would never think you’d be friends with.

Q: What do adults consistently get wrong about your generation?

A: Adults often think our generation is lazy or too dependent on technology, but that’s not true. We just use technology differently, and it’s actually a big part of how we learn, connect and stay informed.

Q: What is the biggest challenge facing your generation?

A: Balancing mental health with academic and social pressures. There’s a constant expectation to succeed while also dealing with stress from school, social media and future uncertainty, which can be overwhelming at times.

Academy for Classical Education

Q: What habit or mindset made the biggest difference in your success?

A: Stay curious and keep asking questions! Being comfortable with not having all the answers and letting go of perfection allowed me to truly learn and grow.

Q: What did high school teach you that had nothing to do with class?

A: High school taught me how to take initiative and create your owm opportunities instead of waiting on an opportunity to present itself.

Q: What does success look like to you and has that changed?

A: For me, success looks like the impact you leave on the community around you. I used to think success could be measured with numbers and statistics, but leadership roles in school and in the community have shown me that real success can be seen in the people you influence.

Q: What is something you would tell a freshman?

A: You don’t need to prove yourself to everyone. Focus on being true to yourself and do your best, not someone else’s best.

Q: What do adults consistently get wrong about your generation?

A: I think adults often underestimate how adaptable our generation is. We’ve grown up in incredibly fast-paced environment, and that has shaped how we think and make decisions.

Rutland High School

Q: What habit or mindset made the biggest difference in your success?

A: A mindset I believe that has had the biggest impact on my success falls under a standard that I set for myself at a young age. I would like to call myself what you would consider a “perfectionist,” so each activity or assignment I had was used as a genuine opportunity to learn as well as display what I already know.

Q: What does success look like to you, and has that changed?

A: In the past, I think success looked like an achievement where I could measure the outcomes and compare them to past circumstances, which is a definition society has forced upon us. However, when I think of success now, I think of being able to reflect on something and know that I challenged myself and was able to contribute something meaningful.

Q: What’s one thing you’d tell an incoming freshman that no one told you?

I would say not to wait until you feel ready to do something or try something new, because that time might not come. Whether that be an assignment, activity, project, or something entirely different, when you start before you’re ready, you have the opportunity to grow as a student and individual.

Q: What do adults consistently get wrong about your generation?

A: Adults often assume that, because my generation has grown up with constant access to information and answers, we aren’t able to form complex ideas or thoughts. However, I believe it is the opposite, and this has actually allowed us to think more critically at a younger age. When we see things online, our first instinct is to question what we are seeing with a curiosity that makes us think in a way that we couldn’t without this access.

Q: What is the biggest challenge facing your generation?

Learning how to evolve and focus when there is so much competition in the world. Everyone has their own distractions and expectations that it makes it hard to truly commit to a single idea without feeling like we’re missing out on something else.

Windsor Academy

Q: What habit or mindset made the biggest difference in your success?

A: Staying consistent and disciplined everyday made the biggest difference in my success. Even when things got stressful I kept pushing myself to stay focused on my goal.

Q: What did high school teach you that had nothing to do with class?

A: High school taught me a lot about responsibility, time management and how important relationships are. It also showed me how to handle pressure, balance different priorities and grow from challenges outside the classroom.

Q: What does success look like to you and has that changed?

A: Success to me means being happy with what I’m doing, continuing to grow and making people around me proud. Over time, it’s changed from just focusing on achievements to also valving personal growth.

Q: What’s one thing you’d tell an incoming freshman that no one told you?

A: Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there early. Highschool goes by a lot faster than you think, and the memories and connections you make matter just as much as grades. 

Q: What do adults consistently get wrong about your generation?

A: I think adults underestimate how much pressure our generation faces, especially with social media, academics, and planning for the future. A lot of students are working really hard to balance expectations while also trying to figure out who they really are.

Stratford Academy

Q: What habit or mindset made the biggest difference in your success?

A: I learned to balance ambition with perspective. A bad grade might feel bad at first, but you realize that growing past it matters more than perfection. 

Q: What did high school teach you that had nothing to do with class? 

A: High school taught me how important being with people is. I’ll remember the late-night study sessions and rehearsals over most of the quizzes and tests I took.

Q: What does success look like to you, and has that changed? 

A: I realized success isn’t just about working for awards or numbers, but the things you learn on the way.  

Q:  What’s one thing you’d tell an incoming freshman that no one told you? 

A: Try things even if you’re bad at first. You can only improve as much as the effort you put in.

Q:  What do adults consistently get wrong about your generation? 

A: I think adults sometimes mistake our humor for immaturity. But A lot of Gen Z humor is really just absurdism born from stress. When someone says, “We’ve all slept on a wet mattress, and we aren’t sure how it got that way,” it sounds ridiculous, but it captures a real feeling: navigating a world that often feels unpredictable while pretending everything’s normal.

Tattnall Square Academy

Q: What habit or mindset made the biggest difference in your success?

A: I would say the mindset to never sell myself short has made a difference in my life. I do not want to feel as if I did not give my all into whatever project, assignment, or sporting event I may participate in. This drives me to push myself even when I feel like giving up.

Q: What did high school teach you that had nothing to do with class?

A: At Tattnall, I learned the value of faith in my everyday life. I learned what it means to follow after Christ in every aspect of my life. This is the most important life lesson I can carry into my college career.

Q: What does success look like to you, and has that changed?

A: To me, success looks like making a difference in people’s lives. Money, popularity and recognition do not mean you have found success in your life. All of those things will be gone one day, but changing someone’s life will make an impact forever.

Q: What’s one thing you’d tell an incoming freshman that no one told you?

A: I wish I had been told to enjoy every memory in these past four years. The time in high school absolutely flies by. Before you know it, you’re starting your senior year, and soon after, you’re about to graduate. Enjoy every moment and take advantage of all the opportunities that come your way in these high school years.

Q: What do adults consistently get wrong about your generation?

A: I believe our generation will have a huge impact. As a Christ follower, I have seen revival spark in this generation that can change the world. Some adults seem to have a negative view of this generation, but I encourage you to believe that our generation will make a lasting positive impact.

Covenant Academy

Q: What habit or mindset made the biggest difference in your success?

A: I believe having a sense of self-motivation has been one of the most important things in my journey. Having the willpower and self-control to sacrifice things that I want to do for things that I know I need to do has allowed me not only to grow as an individual but has taught me to forgo instant gratification for bigger successes down the road.

Q: What did high school teach you that had nothing to do with class?

A: As an introvert, high school has taught me that you cannot stay tucked away in your own little world of safety and comfort forever. It is impractical and unrealistic; acquiring communication skills through practice and getting out of your comfort zone are necessary to accomplish anything in life. Growing up with these people that I probably wouldn’t have ever met if not for our forced proximity for all these years has also shown me that there is community everywhere. When I came to this school as a little kid, these people were all strangers, but now I couldn’t imagine my life without some of them.

Q: What does success look like to you, and has that changed?

A: I feel like I have always had a firm view of what success means to me, as I have had the same dreams and goals for my life since I was a small child. I believe that success is defined not by money, but by maturity. Material gain does not define the type of person someone is; when I meet someone, I determine if they are successful by how Christlike they treat others and if they are secure in both themselves and their life. When I say I strive to be a successful person one day this is what I mean: someone who patiently cares about everyone around them, is able to give back to their community and be a servant leader, and who has achieved a level of safety and security in their life where they can then give freely to those around them.

Q: What’s one thing you’d tell an incoming freshman that no one told you?

A: Everyone tells you to “live in the moment” and “focus on right now” but it is also so very important to be considering your future from a young age, as well. Not saying high school should be all work and no play, but your senior self will be eternally grateful if you plan out what you want to do and which colleges you may want to eventually attend as a freshman in high school. That way, you can take classes from the earliest possible opportunity that is available to you to get you as far ahead in life as possible.

Another thing is that in a society of comparison, one of the wisest things you can do is find the people you click with and stay with them instead of trying to please or be close with everyone at once. Finding people that are not only going to encourage you but keep you accountable and tell you the things you don’t want to hear are what really matters, because these are the people that are going to be there for you when you need them most.

Q: What do adults consistently get wrong about your generation?

A: My generation is the first to fully grow up with phones, social media, AI, etc, and because of this, a lot of people automatically assume that we lack good work ethic. While this is definitely true for some, this generalization is not accurate for all, as there are many of us out there who truly do work hard and strive to be the very best at whatever the task at hand may be.

Howard High School

Q: What habit or mindset made the biggest difference in your success?

A: Probably, one of the mindsets that helped me a lot in my development was embracing failures. Instead of avoiding any possible risks, I started treating failures as an important stage in the process of gaining experience. As a result, it became much easier for me to perform various duties, including the participation in different competitions and assuming leadership positions.

Q: What does success look like to you, and has that changed?

A: I once thought success meant only achieving certain results like good grades and recognition. However, I learned success means growth, contribution to society, making the world around better and providing others with opportunities.

Q: What’s one thing you’d tell an incoming freshman that no one told you?

A: Take the risk. Join the club, try something new, and don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. It is easy to hesitate and stay comfortable, but those are often the moments you miss the most. If you don’t take those chances, you may never realize your full potential.

Q: What do adults consistently get wrong about your generation?

A: There seems to be an assumption among many adults that tools such as the AI have made us lazier. In my opinion, it could be argued that technology is not making us lazier, it is helping us to work harder and faster through innovation. The actual issue is that we know how to adapt ourselves into evolution. While many individuals will refuse to use new tools out of fear, others will advance further.

Q: What is the biggest challenge facing your generation?

A: The ability to form its own opinions independently. Pressures from society and social media can affect people negatively and force them to follow certain opinions simply because everyone else does. Learning to hold your stance despite any potential issues is crucial for personal development.