The title of valedictorian is given to the student who achieved the most and obtained the highest Grade Point Average (GPA) throughout their high school career. This February, Bonita Vista High (BVH) senior Daniel Robitaille received notice that he had been crowned one of the two of the valedictorians of the 2023-2024 class.“I wanted to be the best person I could be and go to the best college I possibly could. I want to excel in my life in the future and make sure that I made my parents proud,” Robitaille said.
Robitaille’s journey as valedictorian was not only shaped by his academic accomplishments, but also by his exceptional leadership skills and dedication to serving the community. He actively engaged in various school clubs such as holding officer positions in both Interact Club and Spanish Honor Society. Robitaille’s ability to maintain a balance between academic excellence and social responsibility embodies the competitiveness of his valedictorian achievement.
“I’ve been in Interact Club for three years and I like how we help the community and generally make it a better place through community service. In Spanish Honor Society, I like it because it’s a community of people like me that have similar work ethics and ethnic background and we all share a Spanish class,” Robitaille said.
Robitaille’s competitive nature has been a defining trait since his early school days. He always approached challenges with a strong determination to succeed, whether it was in academics, sports, or any other activities. This motivated him to constantly improve, set ambitious goals and work tirelessly to achieve them.
“It was mostly just making sure that I had all my stuff done by the deadlines. Prioritizing certain assignments over other ones because they had due dates or staying at home and making sure that I was focused on my schoolwork over everything else,” Robitaille said.
Over the years, his competitiveness has not only shaped his character but has also been a driving force behind his achievements in academics, sports, and personal development. Robitaille’s mother, Sofia Robitaille explains that even in elementary school D. Robitaille was a competitive person, emphasizing that D. Robitaille possessed this nature from a young age.
“He was two weeks shy of sixth grade graduation and he was 800,000 words behind the leading reader. By his own accord he read another half million words to win the competition. He is quite determined when it comes to competition,” S. Robitaille said.
Furthermore, D. Robitaille’s competitiveness was not only in academics but also in volleyball. For D. Robitaille, the allure of volleyball lies not only in its physical demands but also in the mental challenges it presents, creating a dynamic and fulfilling experience. As he passionately expresses, the sport becomes a compelling journey of self-improvement, progress tracking and the exhilarating thrill of competition has helped him reach a milestone in valedictorian.
“I like it because it’s challenging, physically and mentally. I love getting better and like seeing my progress and being able to compete against other people and other teams,” D. Robitaille said.
In order to effectively manage the immense stress and pressure, Robitaille adopted a strategy of prioritizing tasks with tight deadlines while gradually tackling the remaining ones. He experienced anxiety on those rare nights when he had to submit essays and also participate in volleyball games. However, his unwavering determination to become valedictorian served as a constant source of motivation throughout this challenging journey.
“His work ethic is basically like others, except he doesn’t let any assignments slip by him. He stays on top of his work, most of the time, and manages his time well enough so that he can succeed in all that he’s involved in,” Robitaille’s sister, Olivia Robitaille said.
Robitaille shares her admiration for D. Robitaille, expressing that he deserves to be recognized for his achievements. Balancing academics with extracurriculars and maintaining straight A’s is not an easy task, she states that D. Robitaille was able to and earned the title of valedictorian as a result.
“I completely understand why Daniel got valedictorian. The fact that he’s been getting straight A’s in all of these weighted classes, and plays club and school volleyball along with that is very impressive. He deserves getting recognized for that,” O. Robitaille said.
Robitaille’s path to becoming valedictorian serves as a powerful example of how education can transform lives and the unwavering determination of individuals who refuse to let their circumstances define them. He not only celebrates his own remarkable achievement but also emphasizes the timeless truth that education is the ultimate catalyst for unlocking one’s limitless potential.
“I think that anyone can be valedictorian. It’s just a question of work ethic. I think that if you try, genuinely try, you can do it. I prioritized [getting good grades] because I wanted to do it, but if you don’t want to prioritize it, that’s fine. As long as you’re happy with where you are with your own successes then that’s all you really need,” D. Robitaille said.
