Since she was in the seventh grade, Samantha Graves has strived to be the best she possibly could be academically, and her dreams have become reality as Columbia Academy’s salutatorian.
Graves knew she was in competition with CA STAR Student Cooper Moree all year long for salutatorian, and she is proud that she was able to earn No. 2 in the class.
“It’s a very big honor because I’ve worked really hard. I’m thankful to have maintained and come out at the top of my class. My grades have always been something I took pride in and cared a lot about. I knew I was capable and wanted to prove to myself that I could do it. It was very competitive,” Graves explained. “Our class, we all work really hard and try to do the best we can.”
During the week of Easter, CA Counselor Ginny Kemp called the top-10 students to the office at the same time and handed them each an Easter egg. They had to open their eggs at the same time to find out their class rank from a sheet of paper hidden inside. When Graves opened her egg and saw that she was the salutatorian, she was shaking and said that will be the memory she never forgets.
“I was like there’s no way!” Graves said. “I was very thankful.”
Teacher Kellie Watts said the faculty thought jokingly that Graves and Moree would have to have a foot race to decide salutatorian because it was so close.
“Sam cannot be matched with her work ethic,” Watts said.
While she’s unsure about what she wants to major in or what she wants to do for a career quite yet, Graves plans to attend Pearl River Community College and loves that it feels like a big family. She said she wants to keep her options wide open as she enters the next phase of her life.
“I’m not sure what I want to do yet, but I’m hoping as I go to PRC I’ll figure it out along the way like what are my likes and what are my dislikes. I know I don’t want to do nursing,” Graves said with a laugh, “(because) the sight of blood is not for me. But I’ll figure it out as I go.”
Graves thanked Watts and Rebecca Bass because they have both made her feel prepared for college courses. She also thanked her family for always supporting her and being there for her.
“My family has always pushed me really hard, been there for me for moral support and let me know that they were really proud of me,” Graves said. “I couldn’t have done it without them.”
Since she was a kindergarten student, Graves has walked through the halls of Columbia Academy and has loved the family atmosphere you feel as a student going through the halls knowing all of the teachers and students. She said the teachers are amazing and are always willing to help and take time out of their day to give you the attention that you need.
“I’m very thankful for having the teachers and staff we have here,” she said.
Graves encourages younger students aiming to finish at the top of their classes to never give up.
“You can’t slack at the very end. Never give up, especially if your class is as competitive as mine,” she said. “You can’t give up if it’s what you really want.”
Graves is the daughter of Chris and Sheila Graves.
