Q&A: 2023 LEAD Valedictorians
Get to know the valedictorians from LEAD’s Class of 2023. Spoiler alert: Both students are Vanderbilt-bound this fall!
Mariam Mahoud, LEAD Academy
Q: What are some of your favorite memories from your time in high school?
A: The moment I met my best friend in my AP English Language class was one of my favorite memories. The seating arrangements had recently been changed by my teacher, and I clearly recall feeling extremely upset about it. She seated me next to a new girl I didn’t know, but we soon struck up a conversation, and we began sitting together in the lunchroom. I never thought we would be close friends at all. As the AP exam was approaching, I also recall with great clarity my time in AP Calculus. We had a custom of beginning class with a simple riddle, and I recall seeing everyone struggle to figure it out only to crack up after realizing how simple it was. I simply adored how it brightened my school day with laughter and humor.
Q: Tell me about a specific teacher (or teachers) who made an impact on you. How did they help you?
A: Though I really appreciate and admire most of my teachers, I particularly value the influence Mr. Yurchak had on me. He taught me AP Psychology and AP English Literature and his class was always one to look forward to. His passion for teaching was such a big inspiration to me; he always managed to make his classroom into a fun, academic environment where you can always push yourself out of your comfort zone when needed. I learned from him to love and appreciate reading, especially poetry and now I cannot go to bed without reading at least a little. He also gave me a lot of assistance with my college application, and without him, I would have certainly not been accepted to my dream school.
Q: What does it mean to you to be valedictorian for the Class of 2023?
A: Being Valedictorian has stirred an odd mix of emotions inside of me. As a result of this accomplishment, I feel incredibly proud of myself, glad that my efforts have paid off, enthusiastic about the future, and immensely grateful for my parents’ support throughout this journey, but I’m also left wondering, “Now what?” I’ve achieved what I always wanted to, but now it’s not the time to stop. I still have my whole life ahead of me to leave my mark just as I have at LEAD Academy.
Q: What are your plans after graduation?
A: After graduation, I plan on attending Vanderbilt University where I will double major in biomedical engineering and finance and minor in Spanish on a pre-med track.
Q: What advice would you give to younger LEAD students about how to be successful in high school?
A: Always be willing to take the initiative and put yourself out there, even when you don’t want to because no one can advocate for you as you can. Do not ever be afraid of setbacks and failures; instead, learn from them and use them to make better mistakes next time. Create connections with your teachers and classmates; you will benefit a lot from it in the long run. Be involved, whether in your school or community; it really helps build your character beyond the classroom. And just enjoy your overall experience while you can, so you won’t have any regrets thereafter.
Hugo Turro-Serrano, LEAD Southeast
Q: What are some of your favorite memories from your time in high school?
A: Some of my favorite memories were the fun times I spent with my fellow classmates and teachers talking about topics that we enjoy.
Q: Tell me about a specific teacher (or teachers) who made an impact on you. How did they help you?
A: My calculus teacher Mr. Neville and my APES teacher Ms. Levy have both made an impact on me in the way that I learn complicated topics and made me pick up healthy habits that I will continue to use throughout my academic life.
Q: What does it mean to you to be valedictorian for the Class of 2023?
A: It is a huge honor to be the valedictorian for this year’s class. I feel the privilege of representing proudly to my family and also my friends that I have made throughout my high school journey.
Q: What are your plans after graduation?
A: My plan after graduation is to continue my studies at Vanderbilt University and pursue a major in neuroscience with a pre med track.
Q: What advice would you give to younger LEAD students about how to be successful in high school?
A: My biggest advice for all the future LEAD students is to dedicate themselves to become the best version of yourself, whether that be in their school, in their hobbies, or in anything that they want to achieve.
