Although Mia Roberts is Woody Gap School’s only graduating senior this year, her title of Valedictorian for the Class of 2025 was hard-won. In fact, Roberts has accomplished much in her high school career and is on track to keep doing more.
“It kind of makes you feel like you’re on top of the world,” Roberts said of her status, with Principal Wendy Reynolds clarifying that the position comes with requirements; just because Roberts is the only member of her class doesn’t mean she automatically earned valedictorian.
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To qualify, a student must: be enrolled at Woody Gap at least four semesters; have completed eight high school semesters; have the top core GPA out of Honor Graduates; or hold the top Core Academic GPA with no failed courses and having never received a mark of no credit.
Roberts accomplished this and more. Thriving through online learning, she has been able to speed through some of her courses within a semester when, normally, such classes would take a year to get through.
Not only that, but Roberts dual-enrolled at Young Harris College and has completed credits for English and Spanish, giving her a head start on her postsecondary education. Right now, she’s working on finishing a class in psychology, which has piqued her interest.
“I’ve been through a lot, and I see other kids going through it every day,” Roberts said. “It kind of just made me feel like I should help them, like I just want to make a difference in their lives.”
Once she graduates, Roberts hopes to attend the University of North Georgia so she can “stay close to home.” While she’s not decided whether to commute or stay on-campus, she does want to continue to test the waters by looking into a psychology degree.
In the meantime, she’s also got community service experience under her belt, having volunteered at the Indian Summer Festival and helped deliver meals to local seniors. Admittedly, sports are not really Roberts’ forte, but she decided to give them a try earlier in her high school career with basketball and track.
“Yes, it’s great physical activity, but I prefer weight training and working out for my exercise,” said Roberts.
For her part, Principal Reynolds has enjoyed watching Roberts grow into herself over the years. When Reynolds first came to Woody Gap, Roberts was a freshman, and before Reynolds was her principal, she taught Roberts in a math class.
“She’s been a delight,” Reynolds said. “To start with, she was very quiet. I had to kind of pry her a little bit, but once she realized I was there to help her, she would ask questions.”
Described as possessing a “great work ethic,” Roberts has also made a name for herself by being a “go-to student” in case something needs doing around campus, whether that means changing signs or helping with younger students.
Reynolds stated with a smile, “She’s won a special place in my heart.”
As far as her inspirations go, Roberts credits her mother as one of her greatest cheerleaders and the source of her strength. It was through watching her overcome a liver transplant and other hardships that she learned how to handle whatever life threw her way, too.
One message Roberts has for the students behind her is to always keep a positive outlook and stay motivated. It’s something she herself has struggled with in the past, but she recognizes that it’s possible to overcome doubt and come out stronger for it.
“I know this is so cliché, but it is very true that you can do anything you set your mind to,” Roberts said. “If someone says you can’t do it, you don’t listen to that. If you want to do it, you do it, and I think that’s so overlooked.”
