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Graduation 2012
Compiled from student questionnaires
Plano East Senior High School
Amy Chyao
What are your college plans?
Harvard College
What were some of your extracurricular activities in high school?
Orchestra, Teen Court, Research
Is there any one teacher or staff member that helped the most in getting you where you are today?
I am so thankful to all of my teachers, counselors, and school administrators, especially my teachers at Plano East.
Who else has been the biggest influence in your academic life?
My parents have always been supportive and encouraging to me.
What is your lasting memory from your time in high school?
All the fun extracurricular trips I had the opportunity to participate in
What are you going to miss the most about your time in high school?
Spending time with friends and family
If you could give any advice to your fellow students what would it be?
Set realistic goals for yourself, and work on achieving them.
Adeyemi Akorede Adewuyi
Salutatorian
What are your college plans?
I plan on majoring in Public Policy at Duke University. I'm also contemplating a minor in Environmental Sciences and Policy and a certificate in Politics, Philosophy and Economics.
What were some of your extracurricular activities in high school?
Speech and Debate, Congressman Sam Johnson's Congressional Youth Advisory Council, Junior Historians, Future Business Leaders of America
Is there any one teacher or staff member that helped the most in getting you where you are today?
My 11th grade AP U.S. History teacher, Joe Russell -- he has really been an inspiration to me and has become a real friend that I can come to for advice.
Who else has been the biggest influence in your academic life?
My entire family, especially my parents -- they've always been supportive of me in my endeavors, and I wouldn't be half the person I am today without their prayers and encouragement.
What is your lasting memory from your time in high school?
I will always remember fondly all the wonderful misadventures I had with my debate team at the state tournament in El Paso.
What are you going to miss the most about your time in high school?
I'm definitely going to miss getting to see the people whom I've grown close to over the years.
If you could give any advice to your fellow students what would it be?
Learn to enjoy high school. Develop an intellectual hunger. Find the things that interest you and go after them with all of your heart and with all of your mind.
Plano Senior High School
Darien Lee
Valedictorian
What are your college plans?
I plan on attending Yale as a chemistry major. I will be fulfilling pre-med requirements, and I've considered either double-majoring or participating in the chemistry BS/MS program.
What were some of your extracurricular activities in high school?
I participated in science fair all four years. Additionally, I've been part of the Whiz Quiz team and this past year I was part of the NHS board of officers. I also work as a tutor, both at Kumon and as a private tutor.
Is there any one teacher or staff member that helped the most in getting you where you are today?
There are certainly many, many teachers who I'd like to thank for helping me get where I am, but one of the most important would certainly be Mrs. Shipley-Gerko, my AP Chemistry teacher. I can say with certainty that my own passion for the subject has been shaped directly by her instruction. Mrs. Shipley-Gerko is more than my teacher, but my role model: the strength, intelligence, compassion and dedication to her students that she brings to the classroom are what I aspire to achieve.
Who else has been the biggest influence in your academic life?
My dad! He wins the "Best Dad in the World," hands down. He has been a constant source of support, and when I come to him with questions, he drops what he has to help me. In fact, he's the kind of dad I want to be when I grow up.
What is your lasting memory from your time in high school?
I used to have this tradition of Monday coffee, where I'd kick the week off every Monday afternoon by grabbing coffee with a friend. Mondays may be my least favorite day of the week, but the hour or so I allotted myself every Monday to simply relax and hang out will certainly be a highlight from high school.
What are you going to miss the most about your time in high school?
The intimacy of a high school class. For example, my AP English IV class this year felt like a family; we had the most interesting and lively discussions in that class. Moving off to college where classes take place in giant lecture halls taught by a professor I barely know will be quite different than what I've become used to in high school.
If you could give any advice to your fellow students what would it be?
Don't take yourself too seriously! GPA and rank is nice, yes, but there is so much more to life. Walk away with memories of times spent laughing with friends rather than horror stories of cramming for exams.
Lawrence Liu
Salutatorian
What are your college plans?
I will be studying at Princeton University, and I plan on majoring in economics.
What were some of your extracurricular activities in high school?
National Honor Society Co-President, Orchestra Council Vice President, School Orchestra Viola Section Leader, Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra Violist, Whiz Quiz Captain, Collin County Teen Court Attorney, Piano, Multicultural Club and Spanish Club, Plano Baseball Association Umpire
Is there any one teacher or staff member that helped the most in getting you where you are today?
Donna Wenger, my middle school PACE Texas History and American History teacher, had a huge influence on me academically because she fueled my passion for history and obtaining knowledge with her omnipresent passion and energy. Most importantly, however, she helped me break out of my shell and transformed me from a taciturn elementary schooler to a confident student and leader, and that lasting impact is why I chose to write about her for my Princeton supplemental application essay.
Who else has been the biggest influence in your academic life?
My parents have had the greatest influence on me outside of school, albeit for different reasons than most. Unlike some families, my parents always let me choose what I wanted to participate in. I'm just so grateful for the freedom and resources they always provided me, and I couldn't be where I am without their unwavering belief in my dreams.
What is your lasting memory from your time in high school?
This past February, our full orchestra went to perform at the Texas Music Educators' Association (TMEA) Convention in San Antonio after being named the Honor Full Orchestra, a designation indicating that we're the best full orchestra in the state of Texas. What made this experience so memorable for me is all the hard work we had to put in beforehand to achieve the extremely rewarding end result. There were many times when we thought we couldn't make it. In the end, we created a magical performance that not only garnered rave reviews but gave me and my orchestra family an experience we'll never forget.
What are you going to miss the most about your time in high school?
I'm most going to miss the relationships with other students and teachers I was able to create. I have lived in Plano all my life, and the toughest thing for me is knowing that I'm going to a place so far away from my friends and teachers. Those are the people I worked hard for, and those are the people who inspired me and made me smile day in and day out.
If you could give any advice to your fellow students what would it be?
The most important thing, in my opinion, is finding that good balance. As important as studying and school are, I find that eating with my family, watching NCIS with my dad, playing catch with my brother, or going to hang out with friends are equally as important endeavors.
Plano West Senior High School
Andrew Li
Valedictorian
What are your college plans?
I will be attending Harvard University, and I am currently still deciding between majoring in Economics or Biology.
What were some of your extra-curricular activities in high school?
I did quite a bit of community service. I volunteered at a local hospital, and founded "The Extra Step," an organization that provides free tutoring to lower income students. I was also on the city swim team, and I played basketball a lot with my friends. I also enjoy drawing and painting, though not many of my friends know that.
Is there any one teacher or staff member that helped the most in getting you where you are today?
My English teacher for the past two years, Mrs. Hodum. She was more than a teacher to me. She gave me advice on my personal life, and she was one of the few teachers I felt comfortable walking up to and striking up a conversation with on a whim. Thanks Mrs. Hodum! And good luck with your upcoming baby boy!
Who else has been the biggest influence in your academic life?
My parents have been a huge influence. They were the ones that pushed me to continue striving for greatness when I went through my rebellious teen phase in ninth and 10th grade. At the time, I thought that all their nagging and all that talk about the "importance of education" was really annoying, but looking back at it, I'm really grateful to them. Ironically, I will be giving a speech on the importance of education at my graduation, so I'll definitely be able to quote them quite a bit.
What is your lasting memory from your time in high school?
Last Christmas, my mom and my friends threw me a surprise party to celebrate the holidays and my acceptance to Harvard. It was a touching moment for me, as all these important people in my life had chosen to spend their Christmas night with me. It was also a really bittersweet moment as that was when I got to thinking about how we'll all be going on our separate college paths.
What are you going to miss the most about your time in high school?
Without a doubt, I will miss all my friends the most. Especially the friends I made at Plano West. They've always been there for me, picking me up when I felt down; incidentally, they were the same friends that laughed at me when I fell down after they pulled my chair out from under me. I will never forget all the inside jokes that we shared, and I'll be looking forward to seeing what great successes we achieve together as we move on in our lives.
If you could give any advice to your fellow students what would it be?
Don't try to be that "cool," independent loner. Life will be a lot more fun if you surround yourself with people who you can create memorable moments with.
Stephany Liu
Salutatorian
What are your college plans?
Next fall, I will be attending Stanford University in Palo Alto, California. My major is undecided, but I am considering a pre-medical track, and will probably study the sciences. After college, I will attend either medical school or graduate school.
What were some of your extra-curricular activities in high school?
In school, I participated in competitions such as UIL Math, UIL Science, and Junior World Affairs Council. I was involved in honor societies such as National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, and was a member of clubs including UNICEF, Environmental Club, and Astronomy Club. Outside of school, I participated in fencing, volunteering at the hospital, nursing home, and Teen Court and conducting research during the summer at UT Southwestern Medical Center.
Is there any one teacher or staff member that helped the most in getting you where you are today?
I have a range of teachers who have made a difference in my life and all of them deserve my sincerest thanks, but if I were to pick one who had the most influence on my future outlook, it would be Mrs. Pittenger, my teacher in AP Biology. We had a double-blocked class every day, so we spent twice as much time together as usual classes. She was one of the most inspiring, encouraging, and supportive teachers I've ever met, and I respected the way that she always spoke her mind and was a strong, independent woman. She made biology a very memorable class despite the workload, and her teaching has piqued my curiosity about so many aspects of the field that I can't even pick what to focus on!
Who else has been the biggest influence in your academic life?
Definitely my parents. They have been supporting me from day one, and ever since I entered school, they have been behind me, both encouraging me and kicking me, figuratively speaking, to help ensure that I reach my potential. Without their patience and guidance, I probably wouldn't be where I am today.
What is your lasting memory from your time in high school?
A time of great learning, both inside and outside of the classroom. During your high school years, you may be so busy that you don't realize it, but you grow and learn a tremendous amount. By the time you graduate, you become much more insightful and mature than the time you started as a freshman. For me, it was all about learning who I was, what I was capable of accomplishing, and how to prioritize my tasks and my values. Of course, I will always remember the times I shared with my closest friends, both inside and outside of school. Those are the kinds of things that really stick with you, years down the road.
What are you going to miss the most about your time in high school?
I will probably miss most the times I had with my friends here, and the relatively innocent and carefree attitude we had. Of course, we will keep in touch long-distance, but I will still miss all the times in high school that we slept over or went to the park together. Even though college is a liberating experience, I feel that, realistically, I am also going to miss the relative structure of every day.
If you could give any advice to your fellow students what would it be?
Work hard, play hard. Challenge yourself in high school. Don't just take the easiest path because you can; try to do a little more, so you can reach your potential. Look towards the future early so you are not caught off guard too late, but don't miss the present. Seize every opportunity in your way, and look for ones yourself. Even if you're busy, never forget the people in your life. Have fun. Learn to procrastinate efficiently. Find an activity that destresses you, even if it's simply watching television. If all else fails, short 10-20 minute naps can get you through the day.
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