This year, El Camino has named not one, but two students as this year’s Valedictorian. The honorees are Jessica Burns and Derek Tam. “It’s a great honor because there’s usually just one person and I feel happy to be Valedictorian with Jessica,” Tam says.

Both have achieved academic success but refuse to let it get to their heads, “It’s not something you flaunt or anything,” Burns says. Tam adds, “It doesn’t change who I am.”

Throughout their four years in high school, Burns and Tam talked about what they have come to realize what it takes to get to where you want to be. “You have to stay focused and disciplined,” says Burns. When asked about what kind of advice they would give to others for success, Burns responded, “Never do something just because someone else thinks you should.”

When it comes to grades, both have showed impressive work ethic but insist that scores aren’t everything. “Success doesn’t necessarily come in academic form,” Tam says, “Academics are important but they’re not everything.”

The honorees are excited to go to college next year. Burns will be attending UC Berkeley where she will be studying either Legal Studies or Mass Communication and hopes to go to law school afterwards. “I’m excited in finding more people I have a lot more in common with,” she says. Tam will be attending Yale University for Political Science. “I’ve been living in the Bay Area for so long now,” he says, “It’s time to explore new culture.”

Outside of school, Burns’ hobbies include playing piano and Tam enjoys volunteering at a swimming pool to teach children how to swim. “There’s much more to life than school,” says Tam.