Valedictorian Status

The title of valedictorian is a prized title that the most hard-working, intelligent, and competitive students attempt to achieve. It provides a unique feeling- a sense of pride, confidence, superiority, thankfulness, and a "I did it!" moment. I think it should remain as a part of high school tradition forever. The highest ranked student deserves it, and fellow graduates should applaud and cheer for him/her during graduation day rather than resent them. "No sore losers" as my mom says when I get mad for losing a game of 2K (: The competition is part of the race for valedictorian, and the winner should be respected. During my freshmen and sophomore years, I really wanted to become valedictorian. I just wanted to make my parents proud of me because it is their dream for me to be more successful than them. However, I'm beginning to believe the title isn't as important as I perceived it to be. I'm content being in the top 3 while being a well-rounded student. High school isn't just about learning, it is an experience. The main focus of school is and should be learning and your grades, but you should put yourself out there- be more involved, try new things, and just live life. The constant stress of high school shouldn't dictate your life. I want to remember it as a time of joy and youth and not a time of stress and constant work. There will be enough work to do in college (:You only attend high school once, so you should make the best out of it!