Three students share valedictorian status
Mike Maune - Intern Writer

Adam Baylor, Sarah Mills, and Josh Yatsko, all with 4.0 GPAs, share the title of valedictorian of this year’s senior class at Milan High School. The Versailles Republican sat down to talk with the three top students about their high school experience and what their futures hold.

VR: Do you have a role model that you look up to, that has been an inspiration to you?

Sarah Mills: I would just say the people that came before us: the other people who were valedictorians before us. Because I always thought that if they could do it, then I can do it also.

Adam Baylor: I’d say I’ve had several role models... A lot of my teachers and family. And Mrs. Walker [the guidance secretary]-

Josh Yatsko: A lot of the staff are really helpful and you look up to different teachers for different things, honestly. We’ve got some teachers which are flat out crazy.

AB: Yeah, which is nice to have.
(Laughter)

SM: For comic relief.

JY: You got someone to look up to for that. And Mr. Adams-I’ve known him since I was four. He’s kind of like a dad to me. He’s another person.

VR: What are your feelings about leaving high school?

SM: I am scared to death. Because you’re leaving everything you’ve ever known: your security. And you’re moving on without most of your friends. All of my close friends are going somewhere different [than IU].

JY: I think I share that same feeling, however I think I’m prepared. I feel I’m ready for it. I’ve got everything planned out. Hopefully it doesn’t backfire. I’m not saying that it won’t. But if it doesn’t, then everything will work out fine.

AB: I’m not sure I’m ready for it, but I’m excited. A little nervous too.

VR: If you could break [the past four years] down to a few simple lessons you’ve learned, what would they be?

AB: Don’t do so much that you don’t have any time for yourself.

JY: Absolutely... Take your time to enjoy things. That’s something that as you come to the conclusion of your senior year, you realize: “I’ve went through so fast, now that everything’s coming to an end, I didn’t enjoy some of the stuff that I should have.”

VR: Like what?

JY: Well, not so much “enjoy” as “appreciate.” You take for granted all the fun times you had. You take for granted that your friends are always going to be ready to go with you somewhere. You take for granted that you ride the bus home from sports trips and have fun. Now that it’s gone and done with, you realize: “I wish I could have made more of that.”

SM: You don’t realize what you have until it’s gone.

VR: Anything else?

JY: We learned our school work. (laughter)

VR: You are the future leaders for the community and society at large. What are some of the things you see yourselves doing in the future? Or what are some of the more pressing issues that you see in the world that you think you want to be a part of?

JY: I’ve never seen myself as a solver of the world’s problems or I would go into law and run for President. However, I think the problems that everyone tries to solve are their own problems. They try to get through life and ten years down the road, that’s exactly what I’ll be doing. I’ll be fighting to see if I’m going to get to the point where I want to be. Because everyone has demands. Some are higher and some are lower. Everyone has dreams. Mine are a bit larger than most. I think that’s my challenge: to do what I’ve been dreaming of doing. Like I said, I’ll never be a Nobel Peace Prize winner or anything. I don’t expect to be. But working to have a normal life-that’s my future.

AB: I’ve always liked helping others. I know I won’t make any kind of huge difference, but I’ll keep on doing the same things that I’ve been doing. Doing a little bit of community service when I have the time.

SM: I think one thing is that high school seniors always say [when you ask them], “Where do you see yourself in ten years?” “Oh rich, with a huge house with a family already.” But really, you have to take it one day at a time. Because you don’t know where you’re going to be in ten years. That’s where you want to be, but you’re just going to have to take it one day at a time. See where you end up.

Sarah Mills * Cross Country * Swimming * Track * Band Drum Major * National Honor Society * Student Council * Academic Team Favorite High School Memory: Bus rides on the way home from sporting events. Post-Graduation Plans: Indiana University to study Business Law.

Josh Yatsko * Cross Country * Wrestling * Student Council * National Honor Society * Class Secretary * FCA * Academic Team Favorite High School Memory: Beating the National Runner-Up in his last wrestling match. Post-Graduation Plans: Purdue University to study Pharmacy Science.

Adam Baylor * FCA * Cross Country * Track * Basketball * National Honor Society * Student Council President * Academic Team Favorite High School Memory: Winning the Rushville Cross Country Invitational. Post-Graduation Plans: University of Kentucky to study Biology.

Megan Lade is 2006 Salutatorian

 

Megan Lade