Inuvik (June 09/03) - For 18-year-old Amanda Johns, being valedictorian of her grad class is the icing on the cake of a very active and successful academic career.

For Amanda Johns, being her class valedictorian was something she "really, really wanted." - Erin Fletcher/NNSL photo

Johns, who was born and raised in Inuvik, graduated from Samuel Hearne secondary school with 17 other students, June 6.

She was chosen to represent her classmates at the formal ceremony based on her grades, but she's brought more to the school than brains.

She's been on the student council for three years and served this year as the president. She's an active grad organizer, is this year's student representative on Inuvik's town council and organized a 30-hour famine.

She's also attended the National Science Fair twice and took a third at the National Skills Competition in the job interview category this year.

When asked how she does it all, Johns smiles and promptly responds, "My mother is supportive of success. She loves to see me succeed and I think it is instilled in me. I don't like personal failure."

For her class, the biggest obstacle to overcome will be adjusting to the real world, she said. Especially for those going south for post-secondary education.

"I think a lot of people move out of small town Inuvik and get completely freaked," she said.

"It's a whole new way of doing things. Here we get a lot of one-on-one attention. People want us to succeed. But in university you have to have your own self motivation."

Johns will be attending University of Saskatchewan in September where she'll be studying chemical engineering.