Path to Valedictorian: An Interview with Siuola Lewis

Siuola Lewis, Class of 2026

Ms. Price: In that moment right before your name was called, what were you feeling?

Siuola Lewis: Honestly, I felt like I was going to throw up. I wanted to leave. I was just really nervous.

Ms. Price: Did you know you were going to win?

Siuola Lewis: No.

Ms. Price: No clue at all?

Siuola Lewis: I mean, I hoped so, but I really didn’t know.

What It Takes

Ms. Price: Let’s get to the nitty-gritty. What does it take for a student to even be in the running? What did you have to do over the past four years to get your name in the hat?

Siuola Lewis: You really just have to do a lot. Not like you have to know everything, but you have to take on a lot.

Ms. Price: Give me some examples.

Siuola Lewis: Obviously, you need strong grades, but you also want to challenge yourself. I took a lot of AP classes and did dual enrollment, and that’s what really stacked up my GPA.

Ms. Price: So beyond your regular core classes, you chose the harder versions?

Siuola Lewis: Yeah. If you can take a core class at the AP level, I definitely recommend it. It’s worth more and it helps you in the long run.

Ms. Price: And what does that do for your college résumé?

Siuola Lewis: Being valedictorian always looks good, but the AP classes really help too. I’m probably going to start college as a sophomore because I knocked out so many credits.

The Speech

Ms. Price: Have you started writing your graduation speech yet?

Siuola Lewis: No. I really don’t know what I should say.

Ms. Price: You can always look at last year’s speeches online for inspiration. They usually shout out teachers and family

.

Siuola Lewis: Yeah, that’s probably what I’ll do.

Support System

Ms. Price: How did your counselor influence you? You had the head counselor, Mr. Hughes.

Siuola Lewis: I was really lucky to have him. He had a lot of patience with me and sometimes let things slide. I probably wouldn’t be here if he hadn’t pushed me to take AP Calculus.

Ms. Price: You wanted to take culinary instead, right?

Siuola Lewis: Yeah, but he told me AP Calculus would be better for me—and I guess he was right.

Looking Ahead

Ms. Price: What are your top three colleges, and what do you plan to major in?

Siuola Lewis: My top three are the University of Georgia, Spelman College, and—if I tweak my career path a bit—Georgia Tech.

Ms. Price: And your major?

Siuola Lewis: Psychology.

Ms. Price: Are you planning on graduate school?

Siuola Lewis: Yes, I want to become a psychiatrist.

Ms. Price: So that’s medical school and everything.

Siuola Lewis: Exactly. Psychiatrists can prescribe medication, so you actually have to be a doctor.

Balance and Mental Health

Ms. Price: One last question—and we’re keeping this in. How did you manage the mental stress of taking so many AP and dual enrollment classes?

Siuola Lewis: I won’t lie—it got really stressful. Last semester I had three dual enrollment classes and three regular classes, and all my finals were in the same week.

Ms. Price: How did you stay sane?

Siuola Lewis: I focused on what I enjoyed. AP Lang with Mr. Berry didn’t feel like work because he’s hilarious. In AP History, Mrs. Harris-Summers was amazing, and I had friends in the class. We built relationships, so I actually looked forward to being there. I’d say do what you enjoy and surround yourself with people who make the work feel lighter.

Ms. Price: Awesome. That was Siuola Lewis, Valedictorian of the Class of 2026

 Thank you so much.