<p>Competition for the top spot abounds in my school system. At more than one high school this year, students took online AP courses specifically to grab that val spot. At one high school, the top two students supposedly had a pact to be co-valedictorians, then one went behind the other’s back and snuck in that online (or extra online?) class to shove to the front of the pack. And next year one girl is quitting all activities to focus on becoming val. She is going to be taking 10 classes next year. She has let this be known. Apparently the others in the running are going to “let her” be val because it means so much to her. I’m not sure I believe this…maybe someone will be going behind HER back this year!</p>