By ANTHONY BOTTAN
Then, there are students who stretch themselves to the limit and challenge themselves to go above and beyond the norm. For Central High School seniors Jacqueline Bascetta and Daniel Chang, conquering those challenges helped catapult them to the top of their class, which is why the two were named the respective valedictorian and salutatorian for the class of 2008.
"Ever since I was in fourth grade, I wanted to be valedictorian," Bascetta said. "It was a dream I always had."
Bascetta's accumulated weighted grade point average over three years is 106.143 and could be considered a modern-day renaissance woman. Bascetta is part of the National, Science, Tri-M Music, Math and Foreign Language honor societies, layout editor for Central's newspaper Crier, a youth counselor, a Mathlete, and last but not least, a karate instructor. She will be attending Duke University in the fall and will study medicine and chemistry.
Chang, whose GPA is 104.207, also stretched himself into almost everything Central offered. Chang was president of the Mathletes, captain of the marching band and Quiz Bowl team, a reporter and news layout editor for the Crier newspaper, and is a member of the National, Science, Foreign Language, Tri-M Music and Math honor societies. He is also a school tutor and was a volunteer at the American Sign Language shows for Christmas. He will be attending Brown University in the fall and said he will either study linguistics or international relations.
"To get that kind of recognition is a huge relief," Chang said about being named salutatorian.
The two took the most rigorous Advanced Placement classes Central had to offer. Bascetta took advanced courses in U.S. history, Spanish, English, statistics, chemistry, physics, English literature, calculus and politics in government. Chang took U.S. history, statistics, chemistry, English, calculus, Spanish, English literature and politics in government. Chang admitted his favorite A.P. courses were his language courses. "To be able to connect with people in their own language is mind boggling," he said.
Bascetta said after seeing her sisters go off to college, it has prepared her for what may lie ahead. She said she's not too nervous about her first semester, but after seeing how many classes her future school has to offer, she will have learn to limit herself. "I saw all the courses at Duke and wanted to sign up for everything!" she said.
Chang said as it gets closer to his first day at Brown, he gets more nervous. "I have to make new friends, and I've had the same friends since kindergarten," he said. "But the more nervous I get, it still gets exciting."
They both said they believe the workload from the A.P. courses at Central prepared them for the road ahead, but know that college will bring new challenges and problems for them to face. "The workload was so much, but now I know I can do as much as I did," Chang said.
They both pointed to their families as sources of encouragement, and thanked them for their support.
During the summer, Bascetta said she will be working at village hall in the building department, and for the first time in three years, she won't be doing advanced science research. She said she hopes to be an optomologist after she graduates from Duke.
Chang said he will continue to tutor students for the summer Regents, and hopes to either be a high school teacher or an interpreter. His one piece of advice to the upcoming seniors was, "Don't get too crazy. Just do as much as you think you can do."
