Victorious Valedictorian

Victor Peng, the valedictorian for Lamar High School's 2015 class. 

Victor Peng is a senior at Lamar High School, and is the valedictorian for the 2015 class. I asked him a few questions about his time at Lamar.

What are your thoughts on Lamar, and the courses you take? 
I like it. The teachers are very helpful and the classes are thought-provoking. I like my teachers though I notice some are better than others as is the case at most schools.

What suggestions do would you have for someone who wants to be valedictorian at Lamar?
Use your resources wisely. Though being smart is helpful, the most important thing in being valedictorian is having a very strong work ethic.

What’s your favorite class?
IB Math HL. The class is very demanding and has only about 15 students, but the students in the class are some of the brightest students at Lamar.

Do you remember any significant events from your time at Lamar?
The “riot” that occurred my freshman year. I found it amazing that a group of students could come together to shut down a school like that. It was entertaining, yet frightening. In the end, it turned out to be a senior prank that got out of hand. I remember not having a lunch period for a week following the event as punishment.

How is your social life?
I’m currently on a United Church Athletic League team with some friends from school. I am also a member of Reading Aces, National Honor Society, and Key Club.

Sounds like you keep very busy. Have you had time to apply to college?
I have. I applied to most Ivy League schools, Stanford, UT Austin, and Oxford University.

Those are some very good schools. Do you have any career paths in mind?
I’m interested in finance and want to one day become a hedge fund manager. I also might also consider being a venture capitalist.

Those are some exciting careers! Have you seen The Wolf of Wall Street?
No, but I’ve heard great reviews. 

Do you have any special talents?
Not really. I speak Chinese and I can play a little bit of violin.

Do you think that your elementary and middle schools prepared you well for high school?
Roberts Elementary School was IB, as is Lamar, and thus I already knew a lot about IB courses. Pershing Middle School offered me a few high school-level math courses that helped me prepare for math.

What was your favorite field trip at Lamar?
As part of the tennis team, we had many tournaments that I got to both compete in and cheer on my teammates. I enjoyed the opportunity to get close to my teammates and to watch them advance in tournaments.

What did you think about the student population of Lamar?
I think that there are too many students at the school. The hallways are congested and some freshman and sophomore classes have upwards of 40 students in them. The students themselves are friendly and helpful, so that makes the crowded feeling tolerable.

Do you have any words of advice for future Lamar seniors?
Remember to pick your classes wisely. Choose classes you enjoy and use your resources. Aim for A's and be dedicated to your education. 

You seem to have really made the most of your time at Lamar. Do you find that you get much sleep between all of your schoolwork and your extracurricular activities?
I do try to get lots of sleep. I try to go to bed by 11 p.m. and I wake up at 8 a.m. 

What is your diet like?
I’ve never really thought about that. I suppose I eat what other normal high school students eat. Sometimes if I want to treat myself I’ll get the Honey Barbecue Chicken Strip Sandwich from Whataburger.

Thanks so much for your time. Let us know when you get into Harvard.
Will do.