By Mary O’KEEFE

Being a student at Crescenta Valley High School is not easy. The curriculum is demanding and, for students taking any AP [advance placement] classes, it is even more difficult. It is not just the classes that are challenging but it is also trying to maintain the balance among school, outside activities, clubs and friends.

So imagine how focused a student would have to be to not only take 15 AP classes throughout the four years of high school, but to do well in those classes. Add to that, English was not his first language.

“I was born in Guadalajara, Mexico,” said Jun Kee Kim Kim, the CVHS student who took those aforementioned 15 AP classes and was the high school’s 2019 valedictorian.

As of Tuesday, his grade point average was 4.689 but it was expected to rise to 4.75 after finals.

He was born in Mexico to Korean parents and moved to California in 2012.

“I first went to Irvine, then went to a middle school named Sierra Vista Middle School,” he said.

During middle school his family moved to the Crescenta Valley and he attended Rosemont Middle School.

His first language was Spanish, but he is now fluent in English and Korean as well, although he admits he is not as strong in Korean as he is in Spanish. He said it was fun at times to see the reaction of people when he or his family begins to speak fluent Spanish, slang and all.

“My parents lived in Mexico for 20 years. Spanish is the only language that we speak [mutually well] at home,” he said. “I have had several of those [surprise] moments at restaurants like at Pepe’s in Montrose. The [waiter] asks for our order and my dad starts [speaking[ Spanish. It surprises people.”

Kim applied to several schools and received both acceptance and rejection letters. He narrowed his decision down to two schools: Berkeley and UCLA. At first he wanted to go to UCLA but after talking to his family and doing more research he decided Berkeley was it. He is interested in chemical engineering.

“I have been searching around for different focuses on chemical engineering,” he said. He has found nano technology interesting.

“It’s pretty much a relatively new field,” he said. “I feel there is a lot of opportunity there.”

When he was younger, he liked building and art, so nano technology seems the perfect marriage of those loves and chemical engineering.

He said that CVHS has been a good place to expand his knowledge of, well, everything.

“I think the positive point of CVHS is that the teachers and staff really do care about the student body,” he said. “My teachers really tried to help the students. They make them feel comfortable and, in general, that makes students healthier.”

In fact, he has been spending several days writing thank you notes to his teachers.

“I know its really cliché to say but I really don’t know where I’d be right now if it wasn’t for my teachers,” he said.

“I am so proud of Jun Kee and all that he has accomplished,” said CVHS Principal Linda Junge who announced and introduced the valedictorian at the graduation ceremony. “His story is such an interesting one, arriving as an immigrant who struggled with writing during his ninth grade year, and yet he remained resilient and undeterred. He paints a vivid picture of the wonderful people who come to our country as immigrants.”

Kim said he has dealt with negative comments and attitudes toward immigrants and has some advice for others who have immigrated to the United States.

“I suggest not to take everything too seriously,” he said. “No matter where you come from someone is bound to give you hate.”

He added not to fight mean comments with more mean comments. He suggested to take the high road.

“Don’t try to be someone who you’re not,” Kim said.

As for those students who will be arriving at CVHS this fall, he has some suggestions as well.

He said when he first arrived at CVHS he allowed himself to become stressed over homework and tests. He said he learned to deal with it and that has made all the difference.

“Now when I am stressed out, I try to clear my mind by listening to music…or spending time outside,” he said.

There are times when he is doing homework that he forgets to take time out. His dad will tell him to take a break and go outside.

For Kim, going for a walk or spending time with friends is a good way to relieve stress. His suggestion for new freshmen is to find their stress-releasing outlets.

“And remember if you fail one test it’s not the end of the world,” he said. “Just know that everything in the end is going to turn out just fine.”

  Mary Okeefe