Says Hahnville helped her overcome shyness
Being named valedictorian of Hahnville High School’s Class of 2018 isn’t just a real-time accomplishment for Lauren Watson, it’s one she hopes will portray her as a role model for her own children one day.
“It’s something huge … just being able to say I accomplished this,” Watson said. “I kind of pride myself on being a hard worker and showing initiative, and I saw it as the full embodiment of what you did, what you needed to do and this is what you get.”
Even so, the HHS graduate was prepared to be happy “no matter where the cards fell” on the decision.
But, for Watson, cards don’t typically just fall.
They were strategically aligned based on nearly a lifetime of setting her sights on the achievement.
“I’m hoping it shows how dedicated I am to everything I do,” she said. “I have kind of impossible goals for myself, but if I’m able to keep up this work ethic I’ll be able to achieve anything I put my mind to.”
Watson’s life is marked by accomplishments.
She graduated with a 4.42 GPA and 34 ACT score. Named Student of the Year, she went on to be on the Superintendent’s List, Dow’s All A’s, and named St. Charles Parish Rotary’s Young Person of the Year. She was a member of the Student Council, Beta Club, National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, International Thespian Society, Freshman Advisory Mentors, Fellowship of Christian Students, and Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA).
Watson’s activities also included captain of the Hi-Steppers dance team, as well as a member of Talented Theatre, the Superintendent’s Advisory Council, Monsanto Community Advisory Panel, Girls State, and competition dance and festival pageants.
“I love where I go to school and I love being able to represent it in this way, and being able to be involved in it throughout my career,” she said. “It means a lot.”
Calling dance “my other life,” she has been dancing since she was three years old. Watson said it helped her think outside the box.
“I was lucky enough to get both goals,” she said. “It was a very packed high school career. I was obviously involved in all kinds of things. It was something I wanted to do. I didn’t just want to sit at home. In the end, it was worth it.”
In her sophomore year, pageants began to provide an added outlet for her personal growth.
“It allows you to represent something and it focused again on doing more with your life,” Watson said. “Going into it, it was random, but then I saw it was really beyond girls and dresses and crowns. It’s a whole group of intelligent women who represent something in their community or state that they love. That was admirable to me.”
Seeing how the experience changed Watson and other people she knew, she came to realize it helped shape her into someone who could be a valedictorian.
“It boosted my confidence, helped me to speak to others and do what’s right rather than having something thrown at me and just living with it,” she said. “[pullquote]I’m hoping it shows how dedicated I am to everything I do.” – Lauren Watson[/pullquote]
These achievements also starkly contrast the quiet, shy girl who first came to HHS, but Watson said the school welcomed her with open arms and she changed.
“I was very to myself,” she said. “I didn’t have too many friends and now I have two of the closest friends to me in my entire life. I kind of found myself while there.”
Watson discovered she liked helping others through dance, pageants, Student Council and Beta Club.
In dance, she often put the group vision above her own and felt satisfaction. But she also learned the value of doing what was right rather than just pleasing people, and the value of people who helped her be the best person she could be.
Among the supportive people in her life have been her parents, Michael and Holly Watson of Luling.
“They kind of pushed me to be what I am,” she said. “They allowed me to do practically whatever I wanted with some limitation, but they’ve been great role models.”
As Watson contemplates her future, which is to study biological sciences at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, she recalled the road that brought her to this time in her life.
“I am going to miss Hahnville High a lot,” she said. “Even on the days I didn’t want to be there, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. It was a loving and caring environment. I don’t think I’d be the person I am today without every person there who pushed me toward my individual successes and goals.”
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