<p>That has to suck El1jah!</p>
<p>I'm technically Saludictorian of my class, as there were three people tied for #1, and that put me at #4. No speech though, three Validictorian speeches was enough. I can just imagine my speech anyway.</p>
<p>"Well, I really didn't study that much, BS with my teachers in class, and thats about it. I'm not going to challenge you or give you advice because you already know what to do and how to do it."</p>
<p>At my school, as well as some others in the area, the valedictorian doesn't give a speech. I think the class votes on the person to give a speech. I guess the figure the V is already getting enough attention...</p>
<p>This year we had 1 V and 2 Ss. All guys, which hadn't happened in a lot of years, I guess. It's funny cause the 2 Ss aren't really friends, but they are going to the same college with the same major. Really weird...</p>
<p>I don't know what my rank is; I was 19/480 sophomore year (I was homeschooled as a freshman) and they didn't rank me this year. But I'm hoping I'm better than 19th now since I was in 4 weighted classes this year. I've gotten a few A-, B+, and I think one B, so I won't be in the top few.</p>
<p>Well for me, I've always shifted from 1 and 2 and back again constantly because our school doesn't formally rank and my GPA with this girl in my class is virtually identical most of the time. I remember once our GPAs only varied by 0.002...so yeah. Despite the fact that our school does not rank, we still have V and S awards. Both the V and S give a speech at the commencement ceremony.</p>
<p>To the OP: I don't exactly know why you're feeling this way, why would you be disappointed if you came in 2nd "fair and square?" To be disappointed that you didn't get 1st even though you worked your hardest is vanity at work. We all have to accept our shortcomings at certain parts of life, and although you might feel this way about getting 2nd, you need to get over it. This world isn't fair. If it was the way you thought it should operate, there would probably be 10 V's in every single class -- as you pointed out, the top 10 are all overachievers, perfectionists...etc. True, we always feel a sense of rejection and disappointment at not getting the thing we want even though we have worked our butts off for it, but what can you do about it except to get over it and admit that you were just not up to par?</p>
<p>I have a friend who worked 2.5 years on his mathematics project, only for it to be rejected from Intel. He was certain he would make the mark, as several college professors have viewed the project and given their approval. How would he feel about the hundreds of lost hours that he could have spent on studying for SAT, boosting up his EC, and hanging out with his friends? At the end, he conceded, "I guess I just wasn't good enough." We all have to admit our shortcomings, as hard as it seems. There is no point crying over a bowl of spilt milk when you can get up and pour yourself a new cup.</p>
<p>Hey -- your life isn't over if you didn't make V. Getting the fancy title of "Valedictorian" is not going to guarantee one college acceptances, money, happiness....anything! As numerous posters above have said, the S often ends up getting into better colleges than the V because he or she is more talented at the other areas (perhaps EC) and doesn't spend all of his or her time studying! If you really feel bad about not getting V, think about your accomplishments over the last 4 years...do you feel like you have accomplished much? If you did, there's no point for you to agnonize over this at all.</p>
<p>Everyone is an overachiever at the top; what sets one apart at the zenith is the character and the outlook one exhibits towards life's disappointment and challenges.</p>
<p>Here's a funny story that relates-</p>
<p>I got a 5.0 (perfect, all accel. / A.P. A's) gpa this, my senior year. (I graduated 2 weeks ago) - worked my A$$ off, btw</p>
<p>Despite this, my class rank DROPPED, and i finished 8th in the class when the top seven get special recog. and $1000 scholarship.</p>
<p>Don't care about the title, I know not so much money, but I'm just like-
My principal screwed me outta a cool k!!! wata P.O.S!!!!!!!</p>
<p>Edit: BTW got into insanely amazing colleges, so i hope you don't give a shred of anything ressembling two ****'s about being salutorian instead of #1 lol. best of luck to you in college game.</p>
<p>Once you get to college, NO ONE will care about it you were a V or S, or even number 192. I was a bit bummed around graduation, but then when I got to college, it wasn't an issue. One thing that I've found different from HS and college is that grades don't get you the admiration/wow factor that they did in HS. No one cares if you've gotten straight A's if you're an antisocial ackward mess who can't go to a party and have a beer without being a nervous fit. It's more how you handle yourself. Sometimes I regret that during my senior year I was such a slacker(although a got all A's in all APs... but trust me I was a slacker) but I got out more. I got involved in a few non school, non application boosting activities that I LOVED! You're only going to live once and it's not worth missing out on LIFE to be number 1, 2, 10, or 50 because a few years down the road, no one will care.</p>
<p>^^
You can say that again.</p>