MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR: Carlos Romagosa, 17

If there is one common theme among high school valedictorians, its the fact that, when they look back at their high school careers, they often find something they think they could improve upon.

Despite his 3.98 (5.33 weighted) GPA and the achievement of finishing high school ranked No. 1 in his class, Carlos Romagosa is no different.

I was doing it for the wrong reasons, Romagosa said of his quest to become valedictorian of Royal Palm Beach High. I should have been doing it because it was something that could make me a better student and better person. Instead, when I look back, I was just doing it because it was an academic achievement. I wanted to be No. 1 and that was it.

Regardless of the reasoning, Romagosas is an amazing achievement. Especially when you consider the only B that figured into his GPA was one he received before he began high school.

I had always wanted to take AP calculus so I thought Id take on online geometry class before my freshman year began, he said. That was my B. That taught me never to procrastinate.

Of course, he later took the geometry class in person and got an A.

Avoiding procrastination may have been the biggest life lesson that Romagosa took from high school. Applying himself to get work done turned out to be the key to his rising from No. 2 after his sophomore year to No. 1 when he graduated.

During his junior year, Romagosa took only Advanced Placement and Advanced International Certificate of Education courses as he pursued his quest to become valedictorian.

I just had to start taking my time on things. Take care with everything I do and do everything well. Challenge myself, he said. I really wouldnt change a thing. Everything that happened to me has molded me to be in this position. But I would tell students to try new things. Try things youre uncomfortable with as well.

World history taught him that lesson, Romagosa said. He took the class not thinking he would enjoy it, but it ended up being one of his favorite subjects in high school. So much so that, after his trip to the Dominican Republic later this summer, he has places like Africa and Europe on his radar as future destinations.

Romagosa will head to Florida International University, where he will pursue a degree in biochemistry. The hope is to soak up the culture Miami has to offer and finish college with the goal of working in a lab.

I want to study the cellular membrane, he said. See how we might be able to apply photosynthesis to other applications.

Q&A

What are your hobbies?

Reading, writing, I love the game of basketball. Im not good at it but I try to play it. I love watching it. My favorite team is the Golden State Warriors, but Im not a bandwagon fan, Ive been watching them since 2012.

What would you do if you were invisible for a day?

I would love to go into our government and learn all their secrets. Im just so curious. I want to know what theyre hiding from us. What are they keeping from us?

If you could have dinner with anyone in history, who would it be?

This is kind of hard for me, so Im going to say its a tie between FDR and JFK. They were both so progressive, so ahead of their times. Especially FDR and how he could inspire hope in such a weak time in our history. And JFK, every time you see him in a debate, he just looked so lively and full of life.

What is the best advice you ever received?

Be yourself. Its short and sweet. I heard it a lot, but I think the first time it was from a manager at Chick-fil-A. He told me the most important advice is to be yourself. Dont get caught up with people.

What event in history would you have liked to have witnessed?

The rise of the Romans. They were such a dominant group of individuals. I like that when they conquered enemies, they learned their enemies strengths to make them stronger.

What is your favorite childhood memory?

Going to Disney World. There is nothing that beats that for the first time. I was 4 or 5, but I remember Mickey Mouse and all that. It was so cheerful and bright. Universal is exciting, but Disney has that special thing to it.

Who is your hero, someone who inspires you?

Hemingway. He struggled with all these mental breakdowns, but fought through it all and succeeded. For a period of time he pushed through it and excelled. He would write for hours and hours on end. Then he would go out and drink.

What is something most people dont know about you?

I think everyone views me as very serious, but I have a really good sense of humor. All my friends know. I mean, nerds can go crazy too!

What three things would you bring with you if you were stuck on a desert island?

A desalinization machine, a beach umbrella, and a book just to relax. Any book would work, but if I could list one, I would say The Old Man and the Sea, since Im stuck on an island and all.

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Royal Palm valedictorian plans to study biochemistry - Palm Beach Post