As the 2012-2013 school year comes to a close, seniors Jaron Ma, Andrew George and Shalini Subbarao look back on how they have been achieved their goals during the past four years of their high school career in order to finish in the top three individuals of the graduating class of 2013. Each of the individuals have set goals for themselves and chosen their high school courses by evaluating which classes would benefit them the most and help them to achieve those goals.

“I have taken a bunch of honors classes and loaded my schedule with classes I enjoy. I am driven in my academics because I want to be the best I can be and have no regrets during my time at Parkway West,” Subbarao said.

Although academics have been a main focus, Ma, George and Subbarao participated in many extracurricular activities that made them well-rounded in every aspect of their high school experience.

Member of the Drama Club, Improv Team, Scholar Bowl and Mr. Longhorn winner, Jaron Ma, will be attending the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, where he will study Alternative Energy Engineering. During Ma’s career at West, he has earned a 4.64 cumulative GPA.

“I don’t study much before a test. I’ll look over a couple notes if I think I need them or look at all the pictures in the chapter. It’s really nothing interesting or special, but I have had a lot of personal ambition and parental influence to encourage me to do my best academically,” Ma said.

Subbarao, a four year member of the basketball team, member of NHS, Mu Alpha Theta, tennis, orchestra, peer teaching, Nuevos Amigos, and President of Beta Chi Pi, with a cumulative GPA of 4.68, will be attending Duke University in Durham, North Carolina this fall. Subbarao has not decided on what she plans to major in, but is excited to be in a completely different atmosphere than St. Louis.

“I plan to major in something science related, maybe biology or neuroscience. I will be on a pre-med track and plan to go to med-school after that,” Subbarao said.

The last member of the top three, Andrew George (number one), has been involved in varsity tennis, Speech and Debate, Scholar Bowl, NHS, and has earned a cumulative GPA of 4.74. George will be attending Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois this fall in order to study medicine.

“I plan to study in Northwestern’s seven year med program. Through high school, I have been really motivated and driven to work hard in my academics and in everything else. I would not be where I am had I not had the work ethic I had throughout high school,” George said.

Ma, George and Subbarao have made their commitment to their grades evident throughout their high school career. Along with academics as a clear priority for all three, they have still been committed to extracurricular activities that allow them to express themselves and do what they enjoy.

“Always set goals for yourself and keep your eyes on them so you can achieve them,” Subbarao said. “It takes a lot of hard work, but if you are determined, you can do anything.”