Being number one in your class comes with high expectations from your peers, stress after getting a high A but not a 100, and constantly getting questions for help. However, it can help lead to a world of opportunities and rewards as one junior has already seen.

Since freshman year, junior Emma Aldred has kept the number one class rank. She is now going to finish her junior year with that same position after the updated ranks have recently come out. She’s a part of the IB program, and is involved in plenty of other extracurricular activities.

“I am very proud to be (currently) number one and it will be my goal for the rest of high school to graduate as Valedictorian,” Aldred said. “Although it is just a title, it also represents an achievement in my mind that my hard work means something. People wonder why I’m so nervous to drop rank since the difference between rank one and two is extremely small. There really isn’t any rational reason except for that I made a goal to be number one and, even if numerically it doesn’t mean much, I want to be able to graduate with that achievement.”

Aldred is currently enrolled in IB, a rigorous international curriculum that is currently only available at LHS out of all high schools in the Leander Independent School District. Being in a program that requires much more than AP might make it a challenge to keep her high GPA, but she thinks it is for the better.

“I chose IB because I like to challenge myself and saw IB as the perfect way to surround myself with the best (and most difficult) classes and people,” Aldred said. “I like that it is international so you can learn from a variety of perspectives and you feel like [you’re a part of] a greater community.”

Despite the stresses of IB and trying to maintain her rank, Aldred does, in the end, believe school is a good thing.

“I truly believe school is what you make it,” Aldred said. “Even though school can be stressful, boring, and sometimes can seem like a waste of time; it’s important to attend school and make the most of it because it’s your opportunity in life to better yourself by learning scholastically and practically. After school ends, you’re forced to deal with a ‘real life’ and that can get in the way of learning purely for yourself and striving for a better future.”

Outside of class, Aldred is involved in a variety of clubs such as Mu Alpha Theta, Student Council, Spanish NHS, NHS, IB Ambassadors and is part of the school tennis team. She also enjoys being able to travel around the world with her family, with her favorite spot being Puerto Rico. She hopes that this versatility will help her in the future.

“Being well-rounded is one of the most important qualities in life to have and to pursue,” Aldred said. “I do my best to be a well-rounded person and not focus only on school. Being intelligent isn’t enough to be successful, you have to have real life goals, desires, and experience. Even though I’m definitely not the best at everything I do, I always feel like I gain lessons that make me a better person in the long run.”