Salutatorian Sara Marquez never paid much attention to class rankings, which allowed her to remain relatively stress-free during her senior year. 

“I was unaware of my rank being high until my counselor informed me of it. There was never pressure for me to maintain my grades, yet I still put in my best effort, so it was kind of a nice and unintentional surprise,”  she said.

Marquez’s humble reaction reflects her genuine commitment to learning and personal growth.

“Indulge in the small moments while you still can. Don’t stress out over school– just try to have fun while still maintaining your grades,” she recommends. “You should try to enjoy your years of high school and focus on making friends so that you can look back and have good memories instead of isolating yourself and fixating on stress.”

Marquez’s advice to her fellow students is both heartfelt and realistic, showing

the importance of balance and enjoying the high school experience. 

In addition to her AP classes, Marquez was in marching and jazz band.

“I managed my grades and other activities by making sure that I completed my work as early as I could,” she said. “If necessary, I would come to school early for extra help so I could complete the assignments I was struggling on and could not do the night before. 

“I quickly learned that time management and limiting distractions is crucial when trying to get work done so that I could participate in other activities stress free.”

Marquez’s reflections on her achievements and her ability to succeed without sacrificing her well-being. As she looks forward, her experiences at MHS have shaped her and prepared her for future challenges, like attending Purdue Northwest next year, where she will major in biology to prepare for veterinary school.

“I was surprised and proud of myself. I didn’t know that I was capable of accomplishing something so great. I was happy that I was able to obtain this spot without overworking myself,” Marquez said.