High school seniors from three North Georgia parishes have been named valedictorian at their respective schools.

The three top scholars gave these interviews to the Georgia Bulletin as they looked back on their high school years and anticipated the challenge of college and beyond.

Ryan O’Shaughnessy, 18,

is attending Georgia Tech in the fall. The valedictorian at Starr’s Mill High School in Fayetteville, he is the son of Kevin and Marianne O’Shaughnessy and a parishioner of Holy Trinity Church in Peachtree City.

ROS: I have learned the value of hard work and punctuality. It took me countless late nights to realize that procrastination has no benefits in the end and just sitting down and getting a job done is well worth it.

GB: What is your proudest accomplishment in high school?

ROS: Besides being named valedictorian, winning the Varsity Soccer Academic Award and making the 2nd All-Region Soccer Team.

GB: Name a favorite teacher and how the teacher inspired you.

ROS: Mr. J.B. Campbell, who was my analysis and AP calculus teacher. I learned a lot with great teaching, sense of humor, and kind personality. He inspired me to be a better person.

GB: What advice do you have for the Class of 2013?

ROS: Always work hard. Although it may not seem important at the time, it almost always pays off in the end.

GB: What is your favorite memory from high school?

ROS: Being an important part of the varsity soccer team in our game against Grayson, when we came back from a 2-0 deficit in the second half to win.

GB: Describe your dream job.

ROS: Doing something that I love and where I have new experiences every day, a job that never gets old and monotonous. I just want to wake up in the morning and look forward to the day ahead of me, rather than dreading a day of work.

Anna Sulimirski, 18,

will attend Georgia Tech in the fall. Valedictorian at Buford High School, she is the daughter of Mark and Tessa Sulimirski and a parishioner of Prince of Peace Church in Flowery Branch.

AS: The greatest lesson I learned in high school is to seek God and he will take care of everything else. I learned that my first priority is to love him and strive to grow closer to him. When he is my focus, my life falls into place and I don’t have to worry about anything. He’s taken care of every detail so far! It is through him that all my other successes have occurred.

GB: What is your proudest accomplishment in high school?

AS: My proudest accomplishment is being valedictorian this year. I’ve been with my same class since kindergarten, through Buford Elementary, Buford Middle and Buford High. I love my classmates and am extremely honored to be representing them as valedictorian.

GB: Name a favorite teacher and how the teacher inspired you.

AS: My favorite teacher is Ms. Melissa Green. Her roles in different aspects of my life allowed her to lead me in many different ways. She was my honors chemistry and AP biology teacher, my track coach, my Beta Club sponsor and my Bible study leader. She genuinely cares about me and each one of her students. Her support and belief in me have inspired me to achieve and, more specifically, to pursue a degree in biology.

GB: What advice do you have for the Class of 2013?

AS: As we start over again as the class of 2013, I just want to encourage my peers to find what they are passionate about. I don’t want us to become people of habit that fall into uninteresting, purposeless lives. Find your passion and follow it. Like my favorite quote says, “Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”

GB: What is your favorite memory from high school?

AS: One of many favorite high school memories is from a band competition this year. We worked so hard and played our best show yet. We won everything we possibly could, and as a senior I brought the trophies back to the band. My band, my drum line, had become like family to me. We yelled, sang and celebrated all around the field and the entire bus ride home.

GB: Describe your dream job.

AS: I am planning on achieving my dream job! I want to be a missionary doctor that works in a developing country. I can’t wait to have the skills and knowledge to help the sick in places where they are in desperate need of medical care. I hope to work for a charity and set up my own clinic and health program wherever I am.

Katherine Schultz Lacksen, 18,

is attending the University of Georgia. The valedictorian at Gatewood Schools in Eatonton, she is the daughter of Jeff and Mary Lacksen and a parishioner of Christ Our King and Savior Church in Greensboro.

KSL: I learned that high school is full of challenges that will test what you stand for and believe in. However, with a little determination and a positive attitude, it is possible to keep your head up.

GB: What is your proudest accomplishment in high school?

KSL: During my junior year, I won the 1600-meter and 3200-meter at the state track meet. It was really exciting, especially since my dad helped coach me.

GB: Name a favorite teacher and how the teacher inspired you.

KSL: My favorite teacher was Mr. Joe DeLoach, my sophomore biology teacher. He always kept the class interesting by throwing in funny stories about himself. He pushed me academically and helped me start an independent study project that I did my senior year. Overall, he taught me to keep pushing myself even if that meant going beyond the normal curriculum.

GB: What advice do you have for the Class of 2013?

KSL: In my valedictorian speech, I compared high school to a race. We have just crossed the finish line with graduation, but the next starting line rapidly approaches. My advice is to be prepared for the hurdles along the way, but always run your own race and be sure to enjoy it!

GB: What is your favorite memory from high school?

KSL: During Homecoming Week, my entire senior class got together and “decorated” the school at 3 a.m. Although the balloons, streamers, goldfish and signs were all great, the best part was when our headmaster brought us biscuits!

GB: Describe your dream job.

KSL: I would love working and traveling with Olympic long distance runners and preparing them for big events. In addition, I think it would be awesome to start a running program for children in impoverished areas. I would want to raise awareness for the program at events such as the Boston Marathon.