Center Grove’s valedictorian and salutatorian have been friends since fifth grade. After they graduate on Sunday, they’ll be attending college together, too.
Valedictorian Ellen Nguyen and salutatorian Aarav Agrawal have never felt like there was a competition between them. Nguyen has earned a grade point average of 4.875 and Agrawal finishes with 4.846. Both will attend Purdue University together in the fall to study engineering through their honors program.
The two often work together and they’ve both participated in student government, honor society and a four-year engineering program called Project Lead the Way.
Both students are excited to relax over the summer and prepare for the next chapter, they said.
Walking across the stage and being named valedictorian and salutatorian after being friends for so long makes the moment much more meaningful for them, Nguyen said.
“The fact that he’s so supportive of everything, even when I would need help or if he ever needed help, we were just able to work together,” Nguyen said. “It’s just so nice because people take it competitively and I think having your friend as the other person is just so nice.”
Both students inspire each other, they said. With Agrawal facing serious and ongoing health issues and Nguyen battling anxiety, they both credit each other for their strength. Agrawal said he wanted Nguyen to have the valedictorian title because of how hard she has worked throughout high school.
Nguyen feels the same about him, she said. Knowing what the other has been through makes the moment that much more meaningful.
It was never in Nguyen’s mind that she could be top 10 in her class, let alone Valedictorian, she said. Once she saw her potential, she kicked it into gear. It came as a struggle for Nguyen navigating expectations and anxiety.
At first, she pushed herself because she thought other people expected that of her. She also felt she had to prove herself to others because of her anxiety, she said.
Along the way, she changed her mindset and realized she should push to succeed for the sake of herself.
“If I told my sixth-grade self, she’d be like ‘You’re crazy, no you’re not [the valedictorian],’” Nguyen said. “I think it’s exciting because it’s one of those things where your hard work has paid off and you finally get to see that.”
College has always been something that Agrawal has looked forward to. Heading into graduation, there’s not much sadness, but more so excitement and a bit of comfort that he will be attending Purdue knowing at least a few people in his class, he said.
Agrawal hopes to discover what he’s most interested in during college. After battling serious health issues, this moment feels fulfilling to be recognized for his hard work.
“For four or more years of hard work, stressing about a lot of different things and sacrificing a lot of different things… right now it’s actually in a special moment for me where I’m experiencing health issues that are ongoing and especially serious,” Agrawal said. “So that’s extra meaningful and unforgettable.”
