Achieving her goal, senior Kaitlyn Cullen earned the title valedictorian.
“[Keeping a 4.0 was important to me because] I had the goal of being valedictorian and getting straight As since the fifth grade,” Cullen said. “I’m one of those people that when I say I want to do something, I have to do it.”
Cullen felt keeping a high GPA would positively impact her future.
“[My biggest motivator to maintain my grades was] knowing it would benefit me in the long run by giving my options of where to go to school,” Cullen said.
Regardless of the amount of work, Cullen said AP Biology with Jamie Bortner was her favorite class.
“I love the content of the course despite its heavy workload. I learn really well under the way Mrs. Bortner teaches her class,” Cullen said.
Cullen’s biggest struggle included balancing school and extracurriculars, including SGA, NHS, Mu Alpha Theta, Spanish Club and Spanish Honor Society.
“I think [my biggest struggle was] just managing so many APs, extracurriculars, my grades, work and relationships at one time,” Cullen said. “I have a hard time saying no to people.”
Cullen’s largest achievement consisted of her election as the student body president.
“I am truly honored that my peers elected me and I’ve cherished this role at Boone,” Cullen said.
The role of student body president increased Cullen’s leadership skills.
“I really learned [from being student body president] that sometimes listening is the best way to lead and speaks more than trying to do everything your own way,” Cullen said.
Cullen hopes her student body presidency left a lasting impact on the school and her peers.
“I like to think I was a fun and invested president,” Cullen said. “I put 110 percent into everything I did for Boone and I can only hope that my peers remember that about me.”
Cullen will attend the University of Florida and She plans to major in pre-medicine.
“I’d like to become an OB/GYN. I would love to work with women and babies and I feel a calling to help people,” Cullen said.