Fallbrook High School 2014 Valedictorian understands the value of time

“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.” -- Gandalf, The Lord of the Rings

Fallbrook High School’s 2014 Valedictorian, Alyssa Johnson, 18, used her time wisely and as a result, emerged at the top of her class, with a 4.45 grade point average.

“I’m very diligent; when I get my mind on something, I complete it,” Johnson explained.

Johnson’s evident success with time management allowed her to keep up with a schedule comprised completely of Advanced Placement (AP) and Honors classes and be a member of the California Scholarship Federation (CSF) throughout her high school years.

“At times, especially in my sophomore year, I felt like I was drowning in homework,” said Johnson. “Doing the homework, getting the grades, keeping up; the pressure to succeed is overwhelming at times.”

Johnson’s life’s experiences have also taught her the value of time. With her father in the Marine Corps, last year was especially challenging for the family’s only child.

“In 2013, my Mom battled breast cancer,” said Johnson. “However, now she has finished treatment and is doing well. It was just a very difficult thing to get through and still maintain my grades.”

Johnson said over her life she has become accustomed to her Dad’s travel with his work and it has just been part of everyday life. “My Dad hasn’t been around a lot, but that’s all you know when you are military,” she said.

Carrying five AP classes her senior year, Johnson said the best part was, “I loved all my teachers. I have never had a teacher at Fallbrook High that I didn’t like.”

Post graduation, Johnson said she will pursue a bachelor’s degree in mathematics at University of California, San Diego (UCSD). She made the decision in her junior year of high school after being impressed with a math teacher.

“My math teacher Mr. (Bill) Lenaway inspired me,” she said. “I really loved the way he taught and wanted to know math the way he did. It was very impressive to me. I knew then that I wanted to do something with math.”

Johnson’s friends played a key role in supporting her success as well.

“All the people I’ve met in high school, my friends, we have grown together,” she said. Johnson’s friends and closest peers were the group of 40 to 50 AP/Honor students that she shared all her classes with.

“We were a close knit group,” said Johnson. “We all understood what each other was going through. We stuck together the whole time.”

When asked what advice she would give to incoming high school freshman, Johnson said, “Don’t compare yourself to anyone else. Just compare yourself to how you were yesterday.”

When Johnson gave the keynote speech to her fellow 2014 classmates at the school’s May 29 graduation ceremony, she focused on the connection between responsibility and success. “We’ve accomplished so much – between school, family and world matters, that we have learned we are responsible for our own success,” she said.

Johnson said she is ready to move on toward her next goal – of attending a top school within a close proximity to home – when she starts at UCSD in the fall. Even better, her best friend, Christina Oh, will attend the same university.

While Johnson enjoyed serious extra-curricular activities like being a member of the Fallbrook High School academic team, volunteering with Operation Smile, and tutoring younger students during her high school years, she found pleasurable escape from the everyday complexities of life in her favorite hobby – reading.

“I really like fantasy novels and my favorite is “Lord of the Rings,” she said. “I like it because it is not realistic; it’s not something you see in everyday, normal life.”

Johnson has endeavored to make everyday life well-planned and used her time wisely, which has resulted in success beyond the norm. Or, as succinctly stated in The Lord of the Rings...

“All’s well that ends better.” -- J.R.R. Tolkien

GRADUATION LIST

Kayla Mae De Ocampo Abille

Rhiannon Lyn Adair

Nicholas Adams

Alyette Janine Afont

Maribel Aguilar Bartolo

Alfonso Alcantar

Fernando Alcaraz Cervantes

Kayla Erin Aleman

Madison Claire Ann Alexander

Hailey Grace Allen Sanders

Steven Altamirano

Jeam Kamylle Apostol

Bo Malik F. Aranda

Anthony Paul Arellano

Viridiana Arevalo

Katrina Bonifacio Argamosa

Armando Arias

Amy Stacey Arias Aviles

Brian Joseph Arnold

Madison Paige Ashbrook

Jorge Avelar

Crystal Francine Avila

Freddy Avila

Krisly Michelle Badilla

Anthony Devin Baker

Alfredo Banda Ruiz

Joellen Analysse Banks

Maria Alicia Barajas Farias

Samuel Lee Barclay

Beverly Barbara Barnes Smith

Hayden Lee Barnett

Cruz Barrera Torres

Juan Carlos Basave

Serena Ann Batali

Jeauna Corina Bell

Rachel Tasha Bell

Austin Cruz Berain

Roxanne Nicholette Beye

Caroline Elisabeth Bishop

Mason Richard Bolduc

McKenna Carly Boyer

Morgan Keely Brown

Kevin Nicholas Burroughs

Hunter Ernest Warren Burshteyn

Jaime Antonio Cachero

Guadalupe Marlene Calixto Bernardino

Viridiana Cancino

Fernando Carapia

Emily Susana Casillas

Ashley Hanizitzi Castañeda

Joseph Benjamin Ceja Duro

Raul Cerda

Hannah Camille Christiansen

Cheyenne Marie Churuti-Powers

Tyler Kristian Clark

Katherine Addy Clay

Elizabeth Shannon Collier

Luis Colores

Casey Jay Colvin

Alejandro Contreras

Gabriel Manuel Contreras

Jose Enrique Contreras

Tervino Cordova

Misrail Correa

Gerrylyn Grace Perez Cortado

Gilberto Cortes

Salvador Cortes

Teresa Cortez

Morgan Marie Costa

Dylan Lee Crowell

Abel Cruz

Amanda Jean Cunningham

Chet Alan Curtis

Ricardo Damian

Jordan Erica Danso

Travis Nicholas Darrah

McKaylyn Dawson

Jonathan Daza

Annay De Los Santos

Sharay De Los Santos

Jacqueline De Los Santos Encarnacion

Alexander Delgado

Derek Arthur Deming

Jacey Alice Denny

Ryan Morton Dewhirst

Alonso Raul Diaz

Justina Marie DiBacco

Mario Alexander Diez

Angela Christine DiMercurio

Matthew Antonio Diogo

Deanne Thaomy Do

Ivan Domingo

Elsie Isabella Dominguez

Sinhai Dorantes

Sho Robert Douglass

Kierstin Claudette Dowden

Hailey Marie Drew

Garrett Patrick Duncan

Taylor Michelle Louise Duncan

John Duong

Johni Michele Durbin

Meagan Gentry Edgar

Michael Garrett Edgar

Danielle Elaine Eells

Brittney Amanda Eldridge

Ryan Lee Elliott

Joshua Douglas Ellithorpe

Osvaldo Ernesto Escobar

Martin Antonio Escobedo

Oscar Daniel Escobedo

Jonathan Espinosa

Daysy Elena Espinoza

Ines Guadalupe Espinoza

Keyla Sammay Espinoza

Cynthia Jasmine Espinoza Caudillo

Alejandro Estrada

Marco Paul Estrada

Valeria Castillo Estrella

Anthony Joseph Fadaol Jr.

Amanda Chase Rodriguez Fausto

Rosa Citlati Favela

Anne Marie Ferrer

Tessa Maryse Fieri

Ashley Figueroa

Linette Flores

Ruby Elizabeth Flores

Amanda Catherine Foster

Elbira Francisco

Nicholas Martin Gambino

Francisco Javier Garcia

Jeanine Ashley Garcia

Natividad Lorenzo Garcia

Nicholas Joel Garcia

Sabrina Garcia

Gerardo Eduardo Garcia Aviles

Andres Garcia Garcia

Melissa Marie Gibson

Claire Louise Ginther

Sarah Lillian Girgis

Eleazar Gomez

Enrique Galindo Gomez

Leidy Milena Gomez

Elva Leticia Gonzalez

Johnathan Whitaker Gonzalez

Josue Leobardo Gonzalez

Santiago Urisdel Gonzalez

Vanesa Gonzalez

Kevin Ulises Gonzalez Gollaz

Christian Thomas Gordon

Deanna Alisa Gordon Anderson

Sarah Rose Grantham

Miranda Ashley Gravett

Elizabeth Anna Greenfield

Ariel Jewel Gregory

Briseida Guzman

Hayden Levi Haldi

Madison Jana Hanson

Paul Bentley Harriman

Brad Richard Harris

Quinn Thomas Harrison

Talyon Robert Herman

Christian Alexander Hernandez

Claudia Berenice Hernandez

Jose Leonardo Hernandez

Roberto Hernandez

Viviana Hernandez

Rene Francisco Hernandez Herrera

Anthony Alexander Herrera

Heidi Herrera

Aaron Scott Higginbotham

Lauren Sumiye Hirota

Griffin Richard Hitchcock

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Amanda Kay Holtz

Brooke Renee Hranek

Benjamin James Huff

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Drake Michael Jacobsen

Lindsey Livier Jaime

Alexandra London James

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Michelle Reese Madden

Alexander Dimitrios Magos

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Hailee Nicole Mallette

Grace Anai Marañon

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Mc Ian Jay Martin

Andrew Kahler Martinez

Daniel Martinez

Jonathan Jairo Martinez

Jose Galileo Martinez

Zachary Thomas Martinez

Antonio De Jesus Martinez Erreguin

Clarisa Mateo

Elizabeth Mateo Juan

Haley Mathes McCaffrey

Colleen Alexandra McCarty

Megan Rae McGoldrick

Lyle Roy McGraw

Kai Michael McMaster

Riley Griffin Meier

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