At Indian Hills High School, the Salutatorian and Valedictorian are generally named in the spring. This year, Justin Vitale has been named Salutatorian and Jia Chen Valedictorian. This is a significant achievement for the two seniors, as it means that they have worked incredibly hard academically, thus attaining the highest GPAs in the class. When Drumbeats got the opportunity to sit down with the valedictorian and salutatorian, we asked a few questions:

“What was your initial reaction when you found out you were named Valedictorian/Salutatorian? Who was the first person you told?”

Jia Chen: “I was really excited because I felt like all my hard work for the last four years paid off at that moment. Also, it made me glad that I didn’t take the easy way out during times where I didn’t feel like studying for tests or doing homework. The first people that I told about me earning the title were my Mom, Dad, and Brother.”

Justin Vitale: “I was very excited to hear the news and was pleased that all my hard work paid off in the end. I immediately called my mom when I heard.”

“Looking back at your high school journey, what challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?” 

Chen: “I had a really hard time balancing school and fencing because I had a lot of national and international competitions. To overcome them, I had to plan out my schedule really well and get a lot of help from my classmates for things like notes and homework. I also had to be responsible and contact my teachers whenever I was out for a competition to make sure I didn’t fall behind.” 

Vitale: “I was no stranger to the typical challenges of high school, such as bad test grades, lots of homework and projects all at the same time, and being extremely busy with extracurriculars. I tried to have the mindset that the hard work would pay off, and if I was able to finish an assignment right away, I would have more time to hang out with friends and family.”

“What does this accomplishment mean to you, and how does it reflect your high school experience?” 

Chen: “It’s important to try your best with both school and extracurriculars, but it’s also really important to not sacrifice your social life for the sake of grades. Being able to say that I had a lot of good times with my friends while doing well in school made everything worthwhile.” 

Vitale: “I am extremely honored to be given the title of Salutatorian and think that it is reflective of the dedication needed to persevere through the challenges of high school academics and athletics.”

“Is there a specific teacher, mentor, or experience that had a major impact on your success?”

Chen: “I think Mrs. McGowan really helped me because I had her for three years, and her classes are pretty hard. Being with her for three years taught me how to balance my time and to give everything my full effort to make sure I do well in school and fencing.”

Vitale: “I am grateful to say that every teacher I’ve had at Indian Hills has been amazing towards my success in their classes and have helped me become smarter in every aspect of my academics.”

“What advice would you give underclassmen who aspire to academic excellence?” 

Chen: “It’s important to try your best with both school and extracurriculars, but it’s also really important to not sacrifice your social life for the sake of grades. Being able to say that I had a lot of good times with my friends while doing well in school made everything worthwhile.”

Vitale: “At the start of the year, take all of the most difficult classes and see how it goes. If you need to, dropping a class or two is always an option. But it feels better to be overwhelmed with difficult school work than to not be getting the most out of your education.”

Justin Vitale and Jia Chen are now set to graduate with their new titles, both students committed to their respective universities. Jia Chen has committed to Yale University, and Justin Vitale has committed to the University of Tennessee. As both Jia Chen and Justin Vitale move on from Indian Hills and enter their respective colleges in the fall, Drumbeats wishes them good luck with their future endeavors.