[slideshow_deploy id=’84174′]With a drive to not allow his older sister to overshadow him, Benjamin Willsey graduates high school as a valedictorian.
“[To be valedictorian, it takes] balance, hard work and the mental tenacity of a salmon swimming upstream,” Willsey said.
Equally motivated to do his best and perform with excellence, Willsey has balanced his time between school, family, friends, and his relationship with Christ.
Although he struggled to find this balance, Willsey still enjoys spending time with his friends and playing spikeball, Ultimate Frisbee and basketball. Willsey also enjoyed being on Senior Court in the homecoming parade.
Outside of school, Willsey enjoys watching Star Wars and admires George Lucas and his work with the films.
“I would ask [George Lucas] if ‘Jar Jar Binks is the key to all of this… if we can get Jar Jar working’,” Willsey said. “There are multiple levels of symbolism [in Star Wars] that relate to everyday. And ‘The Force’ is the coolest concept.”
An active student, Willsey participated in class council, Math Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Fitness Club, Mu Alpha Theta and is currently a youth leader at ReThink Life Church.
Willsey considers his largest achievement during high school is t
hat, over the course of the past four years, he has become a well-rounded individual and has stayed true to himself.
Willsey plans on attending Florida State University and will pursue a major in accounting based on his skill with numbers.
“Work hard but try to enjoy the last four years of your childhood,” Willsey said.