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May 25, 2016
It is a tremendous honor to be named the top two students of a graduating class. It is especially remarkable when it requires grade point averages of 4.7 and 4.6 to do so. Congratulations to the Class of 2016 Valedictorian Olivia Vidmar and Salutatorian Rachel Smith.In this Q&A session, Olivia and Rachel remark about their journey to the top in their class and what they will remember and miss from their days at VASJ.
What does being the top two students in your class mean to you?
Olivia: It means I’m given the responsibility of being a leader in my class and a representative of my class and the school. It also shows that hard work can pay off.
Rachel: I think it shows how much I can really push myself to work toward achieving a goal.
Was it your goal to be the top two students in your class?
Olivia: No, I just wanted to challenge myself and take rigorous courses and exceed my own expectations for myself.
Rachel: My goal was definitely to graduate in the top 10 in my class so I could get college scholarships. Being second in the class definitely exceeded my expectations.
What will you miss the most about VASJ?
Rachel: I think I’m really going to miss going to sporting events and seeing all the love and support the students have for the school. It’s cool how much love everyone has for this school.
Olivia: The small school family atmosphere where I know almost everyone and they know me by name and care.
Rachel: I love walking down the hallways and having everyone say, “hey, Rachel.” It’s the family spirit. I’ll miss that a lot.
Do you feel well-prepared academically for college?
Rachel: Definitely. Mrs. Kulbago prepared me for what college is really going to be like. I think a lot of the teachers prepared us more so mentally by teaching time management. We could have three projects going on at the same time. I think it taught us really well how to balance time and handle stress.
Olivia. I feel more confident now that we have the college-level classes through Notre Dame and the AP classes.
Favorite memory of your time at VASJ?
Rachel: During my junior year and we weren’t expected to make it to state again for volleyball. Everyone was so supportive of us going to state and it was not about how much talent you have but how much perseverance you have. Our volleyball senior night we were down by eight points in the fifth set and we came back and won 16-14. Just being a part of that family was fun. Coach Mark Royer ’75 was the best coach I have ever had in my life.
Olivia: The cross country team. Every day was a fun time like playing duck duck goose for cool down. Being a part of a team that is growing every year is exciting and adding more and more kids to this fun family. I was the first girl to join during my sophomore year.
Any advice for future VASJ students?
Rachel: Cherish the time you’re here and don’t leave here wishing you had gotten involved in clubs. Don’t worry about what people think of you and don’t be afraid to try something new.
Olivia: Get involved in everything you can even if you don’t see yourself doing it, just go to one meeting or one practice and you might enjoy it. It’s where you really develop a love for the family and the school.
Any final thoughts?
I’m really glad I came here and was able to be a part of the family and the growth and I feel that I am better prepared for college than my friends who went to other schools. The school catered to what I wanted to accomplish and to my needs and really cared about me as an individual. I’m excited to leave and see the school still growing.
Rachel: I’m excited to come back on break next year and see all the new students.
