The Best and Brightest

Too many to name, the valedictorians of the class of the 1998 represent the best of the Antelope, Santa Clarita and San Fernando valleys. Over the past week, hundreds of students from Agoura Hills High School to Verdugo Hills High School represented their classes, their schools and their families with well-deserved honor.

These days, when we hear of Southern California schools, the news is so often bad. Kids can’t write a business letter, can’t compute sales tax, can’t read even mildly challenging literature. It’s true. But at the same time, the number of kids with stratospheric grades increases--a sign that all over teachers are doing something right and kids are responding in kind. At Granada Hills High School, for instance, 46 students shared the honor of valedictorian, which is awarded to all with grade point averages of 4.0 and above.

In fact, a 4.0 is among the lower averages in this year’s batch of over-achievers. With advanced placement courses giving kids extra credit, some schools saw valedictorians with GPAs of 4.5. Averages in the 4.2 to 4.3 range were common. These are kids headed as far away as Israel and Harvard University and as close to home as UCLA and Pierce College. They are the children of immigrants, or first-generation Americans themselves. They are rich. They are poor. They want to be lawyers, executives, doctors. Some still have no idea what they want to be when they grow up.

That’s because, despite their differences, these young scholars are all still children--although on the cusp of becoming adults. And that’s what makes their accomplishments all the more remarkable. Even at the young ages of 15, 16 and 17, they recognized the power and opportunity that education provides and took full advantage of it. Sure, many had parents nagging them for homework and rousting them out of bed, but some did not. Some pulled themselves through high school with only their own talent and determination.

In a few more years, this batch of bright kids will pass another milestone in their lives and join the ranks of adulthood. For some, it will happen sooner. For a few, it already has. But to all, we offer this admonition: You are the best society can produce; use your talent to make society better.