Kale Cameron

What is it like to be the valedictorian? 

Other people will tell you that you can’t do this or it’s not worth it, but being at the top of your class is about proving how hard you can work. It’s about how far you can go for yourself. You have to make a conscious decision to work hard and get where you want to go. Being valedictorian keeps me accountable. I want to keep up with my standards. It helps me push harder and study more to be my best. 

How do you manage stress? 

You don’t want to put this pressure on yourself to please other people. It’s not worth doing this if you are in it for others. You have to be determined and set your mind to things and be confident. It’s about being the best version of myself, not doing what other people expect me to do.

How do you manage your time between school, extracurriculars and social life? 

Set your goals and prioritize your time. Life will get busy, but make sure you can do this. You have to put in the work to get the results. It does get difficult trying to balance sports and academics, but finding a good balance is important. You also have to take time for yourself. It gets crazy sometimes, but my friends help keep me accountable. It’s the little things that help. You have to make a conscious decision to work hard and get where you want to go. 

How do you study? 

I try to get things done as soon as I can, because work just keeps coming in. I find it good to study the days before the test comes. Use any time you can, like homeroom or lunch. I normally take the notes that we’ve been doing in school and go over them one more time. If I don’t understand something, I see if I can find some helpful videos on YouTube or flashcards on Quizlet. You have to put in the work to get the results.