She didn’t move to America until she was eight years old. She learned English in three months. She is the first in her family to attend college. Despite these possible obstacles, Kasia Robak has earned the title of Valedictorian, Class of 2012. “This just kind of happened,” she says. “I just did what I have always done.”

Although she has accomplished a great deal with school alone, she has participated in several extracurricular activities, like Math Team, National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, newspaper, yearbook, and the senior project. She is a dancer, too, and she says that “I tend to lose a lot of sleep” with all of these added factors. Kasia feels as though procrastination is her biggest problem, but she says that “for me, time management has been essential and the key to success during high school. I learned to manage my time early on, so having a social life and participating in extracurricular activities has never been a problem. I need my friends, dance, volunteering, and working all in my life to keep me happy. I don’t mind being busy, and I always manage to fit the things that really mean something to me into my schedule.”

High school has brought challenges for her, but she motivates herself and in the process has become more aware of her strengths and weaknesses. She has realized that she is a skilled multi-tasker, but is easily distracted. Kasia says that the ultimate challenge was finishing her college applications on time. “I spent all of Christmas break filling out s all my college applications.” But she remembers the happy times than the tough ones since she says that “I cannot pinpoint just one favorite memory. My high school experience has consisted of numerous memorable and enjoyable moments from the physics snow tubing and Six Flags field trips to Homecoming dances and fun times in class.”

Next year she will be at Darthmouth College, hoping to study abroad and possibly focus on international relations so that she can incorporate her love and knowledge of languages like Polish and Spanish. Ultimately she would like to attend law school, but also has goals of learning French and Italian. Kasia encourages high school students to live life without any regrets and live in the present. Prairie Ridge wishes her the best of luck as she continues to succeed and achieve greatness.