Next time just @ me. Found out that the universities I wanted to go to wouldn't accept fancy class credits so I never bothered with them. Musician guy was truly brilliant and a great friend though, wish I knew what they were up to these days.

Wait, other countries don't have this?

the kids with the "lowest" grades were generally not present, unless we're talking about "lowest grade but still actually graduating" which was probably similar. the struggling households put pressure on teenagers to work and provide household income, and that makes the 6-8 hours of schooling wasted time. all the "truant" kids I knew had jobs.

but what used to really drive me nuts as a kid is that the valedictorian was always a safe selection. there was always an "out" for the high achieving student who didn't want the title so it could be passed off to a career-oriented striver... the one who would deliver a message administration liked and not make waves or use the platform to make a statement.

looking back it was a very instructive lesson in how institutional power is deployed to steer people into acting in support of it.

Being real how many teenagers are able to articulate this? The idea that material reality has a measurable effect on people isn't even accepted in most of the USA. The lie of "work hard for good results, people deserve their place in the hierarchy" still has most adults fooled.

I don't think it would be unhinged so much as an act of catharsis by giving a neglected student a microphone to explain how the system failed them. But yeah, some students get there with no regrets.

It can be worse. Sometimes they honor and give recognition to students who will join the military after graduation. Or at least they did at mine.

yeah it's big nerd bragging rights to be selected as valedictorian

Yes, my high school had top 2 students by grade and the student president give speeches

It was awful

Probably hear less about Harry Potter and other vapid bullshit. (Yes, one at my college actually mentioned JKR and HP)

I bet they wouldn't spend the entire time jacking their ego off and then listing their entire family tree

Dearest Helena,

By now, the news of our defeat has reached the Earth. The creatures we were sent here to tame are untameable, and the colonies we were sent to reclaim have proven to be stronger than we anticipated.

Whatever you may hear about what has happened out here, know this: Alexei did not die gloriously in battle. I killed him ― My pride killed him. And now my pride has consumed me as well.

You will never see me again, Helena.

Tell our children that I love them, and that their father died in defense of their future.

Au Revoir.