The DHS Class of 2019 will be nobly headlined by this year’s valedictorian, Amelia Layne. She has worked tirelessly all four years to obtain the highest academic achievement in high school, and today she shows great appreciation for both her teachers and friends. Through her disciplined work ethic and masterful ambition, she perfectly embodies the principle that you truly get out what you put in.

Layne has a promising future ahead of her, although she is not quite sure where it will lead yet. She highlights the fact that it is crucial to make a deliberate decision about college and a major as it drives the path for the rest of your life. That being said, she is still deciding on both of these factors in order to rest assure that she has chosen the best option for her personal tomorrow.

Not only does Amelia have a huge presence in the high school world- she has made quite a name for herself in the local music industry. She participates in winter percussion, jazz band, and marching band, where she is a drum major.

Layne is also president of the Math Team, a National Honor Society member, a science team member, and a New England Math Team recurrent competitor. She also dabbled in Debate Team and Drama Club as well.

The list of awards and personal achievements she has received for school and her extracurriculars is a long one. For music, she was awarded Director’s Award (9th grade) for outstanding freshman band member, Outstanding Leadership Award (10th grade) for DHS Winter Percussion, Director’s Award (12th grade) for strong leadership in Marching Band, and Prestige Award for Legacy Achievement: Culture and Tradition (12th grade) for DHS Winter Percussion.

For academics, she was awarded the Certificat d’Honneur in Le Grand Concours Competition (9th and 11th grade), Highest Academic Achievement in Biology (9th grade), Bronze Award in Le Grand Concours Competition (10th grade), Highest Academic Achievement in English (10th grade), Certificate of Academic Achievement for World Language (11th grade), Society of Women Engineers (11th grade), Harvard Book Award (11th grade), and WPI Invitational Math Meet Highest scorer from DHS.

On top of all this, she achieved superior honors all 16 terms of her high school career.

Amelia accredits some of her success to the help from three highly-acclaimed teachers: Ms. Hellman, Mrs. Ha, and Mrs. Holloran.

While she notes the compassion, altruism, and dedication of all three teachers, she raves on the unique qualities of Mrs. Hellman, her French teacher she has had all four years: “She prioritizes our happiness and lowers stress without compromising our education, which is something that I believe few teachers can do.”

Mrs. Ha and Mrs. Holloran are noted for their organization and positivity, respectively.

Amelia has received immense support from her friends as well. Senior Isha Havale has been one of her closest friends since 1st grade, and praises her with descriptors such as “very hard-working, very honest, and very unique.” She elaborates, “she doesn’t sugar-coat anything to make it sound nice or easy to swallow. She’ll tell the truth whether you like it or not.”

One of Amelia’s best qualities is her ability to swim against the current in certain discussions. “If everyone says apples, she’ll say oranges,” Isha explains. “It’s charming because it honestly broadens one’s viewpoint, since you hear the general consensus and her fact-based opinion, forcing you to look at all sides of an issue.”

Layne relays her exceptional intelligence in mathematics to her current job as a math instructor at a tutoring center. Here, she can guide people to the same success she has gained academically.

When inquired of her favorite memories of DHS, she amuses, “When the C-wing smells like squid and formaldehyde. I’m kidding. When we had about 20 fire drills during a single class period while I was taking an English test. I’m kidding once again.”

On a more serious note, she admits she is not a “Best Memory” kinda gal as it refrains one from appreciating the things that go into a normal day.

“Just think of the times you give a friendly nod to someone across the hall when you’re walking through the school, sit at lunch on taco salad day (what’s the current “trendy favorite”?) with your friends, have a teacher make you smile, or submit a fantastic essay at 11:59. Those are the times that make up your high school experience, not that one day you had a snow day or Mr. Becker as a sub (though I really enjoy both of those).”

In retrospect, although her four years of high school were long, the time went by too fast. She does mention that she wishes she spent more time doing non-academic activities, but this dignitary has years ahead of her to see what’s out there.

When asked for advice for students on the rise, Layne was eager to relay a mantra she has lived by (and listen up because it seemingly worked!): “Anyone is capable of achieving their goals, and you know what you have to do to get them: practice, work harder, study, and focus,” she confided. Also, do your homework!

She concludes with the final statement, “Join the math team after school on Thursdays in A103!”

Amelia Layne will go down in DHS history as not only the Class of 2019 Valedictorian, but also as one of the most diligent and visionary students to walk its squid-smelling, temperature-shifting halls. She will go on to achieve many more tremendous feats as she carries along her genuine appreciation of the little things and sheer dedication to everything she does.