Black Mississippi student forced to share valedictorian title with white student who had lower GPA

[MineralMan]

83. Such advantages are short-lived, transitory things.

After high school, I got accepted to several outstanding schools, including Cal Tech. Part of that was due to being co-valedictorian, perhaps, but it didn't matter. My parents couldn't afford any of those outstanding schools, even with scholarships available at that time. Instead, I attended a state college (now a university) that had an excellent reputation as an engineering school.

Bottom line is that anyone who excelled in high school and became valedictorian of his or her class will probably excel in college as well. If they maintain the same dedication and effort, they'll also excel after graduation at whatever job they end up taking. In the end, it won't be the college or university they attended that will matter most. It will be their drive to excel that matters, as always.

Not every valedictorian goes on to be a success, of course. Not all become highly-paid executives or political office-holders. Some even become spectacular failures. However, if you actually looked at a long list of people who were their class's valedictorian, you'll find a long list of people who accomplished their goals in life and who are happy and successful. It's their nature.

It's not being a valedictorian that means success. It is what went into becoming a valedictorian. Talent, intelligence and hard work get rewarded on their own merits. The same things that drive high school students to excel tend to drive the same people throughout their lives. That's what makes the difference, not a title as a high school valedictorian.