Hard work pays off
Cole Blum and Spencer Jaffe named valedictorian, salutatorian
From the very start of his school career, Cole Blum’s parents put him on track to achieve in school, but then very pushed him. That motivation came from within.
“I was always the one pushing myself,” said Blum.
After a lifetime of hard work and dedication, Blum and Spencer Jaffe have made it to the top of their class, being named valedictorian and salutatorian of the Long Beach High School Class of 2010.
Blum, who has won many top international and national awards for his work in Model Congress Club and the science research program, said he had an inkling that he would be named valedictorian since he kept close track of his grades throughout high school.
“I was happy, but not surprised,” said Blum, who is also a member of the high school’s swim team, which was awarded by New York for having the highest combined average of any team in the state.
In addition to pushing himself, Blum said he also makes the most of his class time. “It’s caused me to not have to work too hard after school,” he said, adding that he doesn’t have to spend time relearning everything he was taught in the classroom.
The future University of Pennsylvania freshman is unsure what his major will be, but he tentatively plans to focus on biology and economics while possibly swimming on the school’s club team.
After graduation Blum will take on a month-long internship at Long Beach Medical Center before taking the rest of the summer off to enjoy home before heading off to college. “I’m definitely looking forward to meeting new people,” he said of the upcoming school year. He is also excited about being able to control the classes he takes and creating his own schedule.
When Jaffe found out he was named salutatorian, he was alone on an Amtrak train coming home from Brown University in Rhode Island, where he was a prospective student. He got the illegal text from a friend who heard the announcement at school. Not long after, Jaffe was officially accepted to Brown, where he plans to study math and international relations.
Like Blum, Jaffe also had an idea that he would be at the top of his class. “Throughout high school I always worked and studied and put a lot of work into my courses,” he said, happy and honored that he was recognized for all his effort.
