Hard Work Puts Bryan Santos at the Top of the Class

After four years of diligence, one student will complete his time at Cranford High School with an unmatched accomplishment. The CHS Class of 2011 will graduate next week, with Bryan Santos taking top honors. The senior finishes his illustrious high school career as the class Valedictorian, an achievement that was both unexpected and well-deserved. 

"I was happy and excited," Santos said of the news. "All the hard work I put into the four years kind of culminated in that moment."

Santos certainly made his mark in his time at CHS. In addition to his studies, Santos remained a leader in several other arenas. He was President of DECA, co-President of the Math Honors Society, and Vice President of the National Honors Society. Santos also participated in physics, chemistry, and math leagues.  Last summer, he was one of 39 scholars in the state chosen to participate in the New Jersey Scholars Program, where he spent a month learning about human rights at the Lawrenceville School Campus. But his talents were not limited to academics; he played soccer and golf for the high school, as well as playing in the school's Jazz and Marching Bands.

"I do a lot," he said with a laugh. 

The road to Valedictorian was not always a smooth one. Some subjects came naturally to Santos, allowing him to rise to Honor and AP levels. Others, however, required more attention. Though Santos excelled in mathematics and economics, his english classes gave him a bit of trouble.

"Freshman english was the biggest challenge," he said. "The english courses have been, on an academic level, the toughest for me."  

By meeting the challenge, Santos thinks he became a stronger student.

"I do feel that they have pushed me to be a better writer, so I've prospered out of it," he said.

Santos was able to persevere due to his unfaltering work ethic. He faced academic challenges head-on, an attitude he encourages aspiring scholars to adopt. 

"Work hard, and don't be scared of the challenge," he advised. "My sister is a freshman and she's always asking me, 'is this going to be too hard, should I not take it, should I make my schedule easier?' I say no, do it, just suck it up and push yourself. That's going to make you a better individual, a better scholar, and a better person. Don't be scared."

For his Valedictorian speech, Santos plans on thanking those who supported him throughout his scholastic career, such as teachers, principals, supervisors, and his parents. He also hopes to, "lighten up the mood a little bit with a few jokes here and there." Next year, Santos will grace the hallowed halls of Yale to study Economics. Even among the bright minds the University has to offer, Santos believes the tight-knit spirit of Cranford will go unparalleled.

"I will miss the sense of community of Cranford," he said. "You go out to college, you're not going to know anyone, you don't know where you're going, what you're going to be doing, who you're going to be meeting with. In Cranford, you kind of know everyone; you grew up with them. You know their families, it's more of an intimate type thing."