AMERICA | A brilliant young girl named Monique Thompsonhas made history at Nimitz High School in Irving, Texas, by becoming the first Black female valedictorian in the school’s history.
Monique shared how surreal it felt to make history as a person of color. For her, it was just a personal win, but a moment of inspiration for others who look like her and dare to dream big.
She described the moment as one that made her feel special, knowing that her story could light the path for many more to come.
“Being the first Black female valedictorian to represent Nimitz High School in over a decade feels so special. I feel God placed me in many positions this year that I could never imagine being in on my own,” Monique said.
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“Society constantly paints Black females in a certain picture, but this accomplishment should encourage them to paint their own picture. We are more than our skin and hair, even though both are beautiful and wonderfully made,” she added.
Monique believes that Black teenagers are holding themselves back due to a lack of interest in pursuing higher goals. She said that many Black teens allow their environment and circumstances to dictate their future rather than aspiring for more.
She went further to encourage Black teens to disregard negative opinions and believe in their ability to succeed in any field.
While a student, Monique said she faced challenges especially in her senior year but she remained focused.
“I have always been active, involved with various activities and working, so time management was the biggest internal battle I had to overcome,” she said. Due to miscommunication in scheduling, she also struggled with impostor’s syndrome.
“The summer prior to my senior year, my counselor retired, and the counselor who took over noticed that I was short two required classes: Economics and Spanish,” Monique said.
“I thought I had taken all of my requirements, but I was short those two classes. After hearing the news, many thoughts ran through my head. How will this affect me graduating? The thought of losing everything I had worked so hard for was devastating,” she added.
She fought her internal battle with sheer determination and hard work, backed by an unbelievable support system of family, friends, and dedicated teachers.
Monique also learned the value of time management and hard work from her father, who stepped up when COVID-19 hit and many families faced challenges, taking on double duties. She also learned the importance of communication from her mother.
Currently, Monique is a member of Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) and graduated High School with her associate’s degree. She will be proceeding to Emory University, Georgia to pursue a degree in Nursing.
“I chose Emory University because I have family there , so I won’t have to worry about getting homesick and they are ranked second in the United States for their nursing program,” she said.
Monique end goal is to be a traveling nurse practitioner for pediatrics and have her own practice. “I love a hands-on experience, I love STEM, and I work with kids all the time, so I figured nursing would be my best career,” she said.
“I hope this accomplishment encourages other young Black females that they can do anything they put their mind to,” Monique added.
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