Graduation had finally come. The seniors anxious to try their hands at the real world had only a few weeks before school was out. What had happened the years before this epic occasion would rule who had risen to the top academically, physically, and artistically. Merit awards were all fun to win but the only one that ever mattered was the valedictorian. Students showed up year after year competing each semester for the number one position in the class ranking. The student who won got to go to the most prestigious schools, for free.
Every student works their hardest; few desired to test their limits in fear of ruining their scores. Some, however, stood above their peers. These were the ones deemed by the government and teachers as the best of the best. Their scores in all their classes were top notch. All of them strove for the seat of honor, valedictorian.
The day came when all the students came after school to receive their awards. Art was displayed, trophies polished and teachers smiling. The agony of waiting for all the names to be announced, from last to first based on the students GPAs, caused some parents to faint. Soon many of the students were weeded out of contention for highest honors. Then there were two students left. Geoff and John were two very interesting students. If one were to liquefy them one would be oil and the other water. They were distinct from one another in the games they played to the music they let rest on their ears. These differences weren’t just found in trivial play lists but also in work ethics.
Geoff was very hard working. Going above and beyond in everything he did. Taking AP classes and taking two college courses the last semester. He was the shining star of achievements in anything you needed a brain for, just don’t ask him to throw a pass. John was also a hard worker. He never really pushed himself, but attained A’s in all his classes. Being no slouch he did well in sports too. He trained hard for the state title in basketball and led his team to a victory, but he wasn’t to keen on thinking outside of classes for fun.
We all knew Geoff really wanted to win. He dreamt of this day often and made it known this was to be the crowning achievement of his four year career. When the announcer called for both to come up to the stage the crowd was silent. It had been years since there were two top students. How these two had managed to tie no one knew. That day a very happy Geoff went away knowing he had achieved what only one other student did. He did not care if he shared the title, he had done it.
Both
