<p>So I'm a 10th grader and i wanna be valedictorian. Right now i m 2nd (based on 9th grade GPA). But the thing is the girl who is 1st is so nice, sweet, modest, unlike me, who feels good when ppl fuss over my good grade.
Today, after a summer club meeting we went to see our guidance counselor for our schedule. She signed up for an all-honors schedule (after taking gym over the summer to free up an elective; i thought she did it so that she could maintain her rank) but her classes conflicted and she has to choose from 2 free non-honors elective. I was w/ her at the time and was kind of feeling bad for her but then a little grateful. Is this bad? I dont want to be this vicious grade-chaser. But, this means that we would both have an even # of weighted classes next year, but i would still have a more rigorous schedule (she has to choose from worthless electives). Everytime i m near her, i always have this sinking feeling in my gut that i must beat her (grade-wise). She's like the perfectionist version of me. Last yr she had 2 less honors classes than me but still got a 4.85w/4.0uw, i have a 4.7/3.8. Luckily, my schedule turned out to be perfect, with gym as the only non-academic subject; and she has none of my classes.
How do I keep from getting that jealous feeling? I might be missing out on a good friendship just b/c i'm constantly trying to see her grades. Is this how it is w/ all schools who actually have a Val-Sal thing? Anybody going through this? My school is not at all very competitive, the val last yr had a 4.9 while another in the top 10 had a 4.3 (see what i mean?) I'm hating myself for even writing this but I need to let it out (my parents dont understand, they dont push me, i push myself)</p>
<p>Really, don't worry about the valedictorian thing. I am 3rd in my class and I have two people above me who work way harder than I do. They deserve it. The difference between 1st, 2nd, and 3rd has no impact on college admissions as long as you stay up there. Val/Sal isn't even decided at most schools until after you apply to schools. Try to be happy with 2nd, it's just as good as 1st, especially when the difference is miniscule. You will save yourself a lot of stress and have more time for things that matter.</p>
<p>I agree, don't worry about class rank too much. I can understand why being number one is so enticing when you're number two, but the truth is that being second in your class is something to be proud of (it also has a name: salutatorian). You'll be much happier if you just do your best and be proud of yourself. </p>
<p>Also, don't worry about the people who treat class rank as if it's a game, doing things to get ahead and not because they just want to do them. Probably they will get ahead, but people respect honesty and dignity much more.</p>
<p>Don't stress so much about be being "number one". Just do your best. In the end that's all that'll matter. My sister graduated 3rd and when she went to college she realized nobody gave a shlt. Then she felt like a complete idiot for wasting her time obsessing over something so insignificant. My school is insanely competitive though. The averages right now are something like 102.7,102.6 and so on. I try not to get myself involved in that though. Some of my friends even stopped helping me with HW assignments just because I was ahead of them in rank. It was rediculous. So the point of my little story is, it's completely not worth the stress.</p>
<p>hey there. i'm a rising senior who is also second in her class. i'm not gonna lie..i DO want to beat out the current val. i take interest in the classes she is taking and things like that because i want to be number 1, and it drives me nuts that she doesn't even seem to care. i think the big thing is we have >.1 difference, so any little thing could push me up. anyway, don't worry about it. pushing yourself will always lead to get things no matter what the reason is for doing so.</p>
<p>(ps- i'm luckier than you because i know for sure i'm not missing out on a friendship here :D)</p>
<p>I'm in a somewhat similar situation, except that the girl who ought to be val took a course by correspondence (so she could fit in theatre/choir/color guard WITH all AP's) and that course went without rank credit - so she's got almost straight A+'s with one zero (and still managed to beat 500 other kids!). Needless to say, that feels guilty - and I <i>still</i> feel like I'm competing with her.</p>
<p>Anyway, no real advice there, just sympathy. If anything, competition is good - just don't be obnoxious about it (meaning that if you decide to score-weasel, do it discretely).</p>