SOUTH FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Students in South Fulton County did an extraordinary job during a very trying school year. When most students worried they would struggle during the pandemic, some excelled and are now going to college for free.
Ever since Nia Gladden was in elementary school and saw how much recognition the class valedictorian gets, she told her parents she was going to be Westlake High School’s valedictorian in 2021, the student with the highest GPA in the entire grade.
And that’s exactly what she did.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
Gladden said the pandemic made things a little more difficult but in the end, it taught her some things.
“It was worth it I think,” Gladden said. “I got to know more about myself and how hard I’m able to work and I’m happy about it.”
Nadia Jackson did the same thing at Tri Cities High School in South Fulton County.
When asked if she ever saw herself being valedictorian, Jackson said, “Well, my mom did. I think that it was just very nerve wracking for me and I was also very stressed at school because I did want to be at least top 10.”
When administrators were announcing the top 10 during a student town hall meeting, they started from number 10 and worked their way up. Jackson could barely stand it.
“They kept getting closer in numbers and my heart was dropping honestly because I’m like, ‘Why am I not being called?’ And was like, ‘OK’ but as soon as they called my name there was so much emotion,” Jackson said.
Madison Webb is on her way to Harvard University on a full academic scholarship and that was even more tough to do this year because Harvard had a record-breaking 3% acceptance rate.
Webb said the pandemic and the social unrest we had last summer affected her in way she didn’t think it would.
“It really took a toll on me because it kind of decreased my confidence,” Webb said. “It made me question myself - do I belong at a school like Harvard? Would I feel comfortable at a school like Harvard? From there I just had to believe in myself.”
Congratulations to all of the graduating students!
[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
©2021 Cox Media Group
