NATALIE OLIVARES

SALUTATORIAN / MOISÉS E. MOLINA HIGH SCHOOL

Natalie, 18, committed to Tufts University and says she is considering international relations as a major. In her free time, she likes reading and doing crafts.

ADVICE SHE WOULD GIVE A FRESHMAN COMING INTO HER SCHOOL: Don’t be afraid to be yourself. You’ll find a group of friends who will love and care for you as you are, not for trying to keep up with the status quo.

HER PARTING ADVICE FOR THE CLASS OF 2020: Although we did not properly say goodbye to each other, I hope the great memories we made as the Class of 2020 are ones you can look back on happily.

THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSON SHE LEARNED IN HIGH SCHOOL: Some friends will stay while others will go, and that’s okay. In all honesty, some friends I made my freshman year are not my friends now, while others I know I will be friends with for life. I cherish all of these friendships and they all taught me lessons.

MADELYN BLAKE SALUTATORIAN/ TRINIDAD GARZA EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL

Madelyn, 18, plans to attend Messiah College and major in actuarial science.

ADVICE SHE WOULD GIVE TO INCOMING FRESHMEN: Try to be on good terms with as many teachers as possible. This will help you not only in the future with recommendation letters and the like, but it will also help you maintain your sanity. Teachers will be more than willing to help you, but you have to ask them first.

THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSON SHE LEARNED IN HIGH SCHOOL: Knowing where you stand, both academically and relationally, is imperative to getting where you want to go and avoiding situations you don’t want to be in. If you want to be ranked in the top 10, know what your grades are and how to improve them. If you want to love and feel loved, know what love is. Don’t be afraid of the unknown. Shying away from it will only hurt you.