As the school year draws to a close, the Dodger wanted to shine a light on two students who excelled throughout high school in a myriad of ways. Liam Flanagan and Stephanie Deeb, the salutatorian and valedictorian of the Class of 2015, earned their titles by making the highest academic marks, but their impact on their senior class is far greater than their grades convey. MDO sat down with Steph Deeb to discuss how high school impacted her and her plans for the future.

MDO: Where will you be going to college next year? Why did you choose that school?

SD: I’m going to RPI and I chose that school because it seemed like a good fit and I felt like I could accomplish what I hope to do in college there. Also, my sister goes there and I have family nearby so I already have somewhat of a comfort level with the school, which is nice!

MDO: What sports did you play at MHS? What experiences do you think have shaped you?

SD: I played softball at MHS! I think I’ve had a lot of experiences throughout high school that have shaped me, but through softball I think I’ve learned a lot about commitment and focus! I think that a lot of my experiences playing softball have molded me into an organized and goal oriented person (maybe a little obsessive sometimes *laughs*).

MDO: What advice would you give to underclassmen?

SD: I guess I would advise underclassmen to work hard and to always have something that they are working towards to keep them motivated! It sounds cheesy, but giving your best effort, even if you don’t feel like it, is something worthwhile and something to be proud of. Also, make sure to put time into things that you are genuinely interested in – don’t get too caught up in doing only activities that look good on a college application, because that’s not the most important thing. But above all, try to enjoy your time in high school because it goes by pretty fast!

MDO: Any thoughts or sneak peeks to your Valedictorian speech?

SD: Ahh I’m not really sure yet! I googled how to write a speech, so that’s a start. My friends keep reminding me not to start laughing uncontrollably, because I do that sometimes, so that’s good advice. I’m hoping that if I try to be funny, people laugh.

MDO: What is your biggest take away from high school?

SD: I think that my biggest takeaway from high school is to try to keep a positive attitude because in so many situations it makes all the difference! Also, it’s really important to be a good friend, and to be appreciative and sympathetic to other people.

Quinn Hurley’s interview with Liam Flanagan can be found here. Best of luck to Steph at RPI in the fall!