What it means to be a Top 20 Senior is different for everyone. For example, one could say the smartest or most athletic would be a top contender. However, some Top 20 Seniors tend to disagree with that, saying it takes character, and being well-rounded.
ASB President Akshaj Mukkollu, and Top 20 Senior, agrees with this sentiment.
“If you look at our Top 20 Seniors, it’s more than academics; it’s service to the school, athletics, and some sort of other activity such as a club,” Mukkollu said. “It’s a lot of factors that fold into one.”
Although academic performance may not be the sole reason for the selection of a Top 20 Senior, it still has its own importance.
Mukkollu explains that he’s also largely involved with planning activities for the school.
“Decision Day is coming up, and that requires extensive planning. It’s a decent amount of work with organizing,” Mukkollu said.
To future seniors, Mukkollu gives a piece of advice to them.
“Senior year is busy. My classes were easier, but the college applications, the scholarship applications, and everything in between. It all takes up so much time. So, just plan accordingly,” Mukkollu said.
Mukkollu is going to the University of Washington and plans on running for Club Northwest.
“I’m excited; it’s going to be a new chapter and I’m definitely going to miss PHS,” Mukkollu said. “It’s like a home away from home.”
With high school ending, he reflects on his favorite memory from school.
“[My favorite memory] had to be AP Physics 1 during my sophomore year. It was so much fun doing labs and applying what we’ve learned in class,” Mukkollu said. “I think that’s the coolest thing we do in school, applying what we’ve learned.”
Miriam Lee is the treasurer for the Asian Culture Club. She helps organize meetings and plan alongside certain events such as the Multicultural Event. Formally she handles the funds of the club, however, she still takes part in the critiquing of plans and activities.
“All the officers collaborate on what we’re going to do next, to make our club more enjoyable,” Lee said.
She explains how the students of PHS are vast and diverse, all being unique and outstanding in their own ways.
“For the ones who were selected though, I noticed they were all hard workers,” Lee said. “They’re all very diligent.”
She explains that they put a lot of effort into academics, and their character is admirable.
“They’re all very nice and friendly. I think everyone who got it really deserves it,” Lee said.
She says there’s many more outstanding seniors, and that being a top 20 in anything means that you work hard for it.
“You’re open, and a diverse kind of person,” Lee said.
Victoria Hernandez is the president of the HOSA club, helping in the running of all blood drives throughout her junior and senior years. She is an active volunteer at Multi-Care, completing 115 hours of community service in Multi-Care alone
“I’ve also been appointed to kind of the director of helping children therapy events,” Hernandez said.
Hernendez says it takes grit to be in the Top 20 Seniors.
“It takes a lot of hard work and dedication, and I think that for the most part that being in the top 20 isn’t all about the grade point average,” Hernandez said. “It’s more about what you’ve overcome throughout your three years of high school.”
When it comes to graduation, Hernandez describes it as a bittersweet feeling.
“Coming from where I’m from, my family, they hadn’t completed high school,” Hernandez said.
For future seniors, Hernandez says they should stay on top of their work.
“I think that whoever tells you that junior year is your hardest year is a liar. Senior year is the hardest year,” Hernandez said. “Apply to so many scholarships, you can never apply to too many.”
Hernandez says the year will go by fast, so students should enjoy school while it lasts. A memory she personally enjoyed was meeting Monisha Uriti, the previous senior class president.
“Monisha was such a role model, the smartest and strongest person I know,” Hernandez said. “Getting to know her was the best experience.”