As the second quarter came to a close, junior Ashley Alvarez Meija approached her marketing teacher and asked if she had any missing work. She did - a small 5 point assignment from a day she was out sick. Her teacher assured her that her grade in the class was outstanding - she had a 98% - and there was no need to make up the missing assignment. Ashley, however, insisted on completing it. Just getting an A wasn’t enough, she told her teacher. She wanted a perfect 100% in that class. 

Ashley is an example of the countless West High School students who prioritize academic success. Ashley and her fellow Cowboys’ hard work is setting them up for success after graduation. 

Marketing is not the only class Ashley scored highly in for the second quarter. She received straight As for the second quarter, and she consistently does well in her classes. Ashley’s academics are her top priority, but she said it wasn’t always like that. 

“I didn’t care as much about my grades when I was little,” Ashley said. “But then, there was a teacher who I had in seventh grade. He gave me a D on my exam, and he took me aside and told me that I could be a better student and needed to focus more on my grades.”

It was advice she took seriously. Now, Ashley is one of the top 20 students in West’s junior class and received Honor Roll for both the first and second quarters this year. Congratulations, Ashley!