As the school year comes to an end, the class of 2026 inches closer and closer to one of the biggest moments of their young lives: graduation.
While this is a celebration of all of our soon-to-be graduates, one person in particular has shined bright through her academic performance: Cara Nelson, the class of 2026’s valedictorian!
Nelson is the first female valedictorian at Landstown High School in years, arguably an even bigger accomplishment than merely being valedictorian.
When asked what her plans were after high school, Nelson answered: “I am going to go to college at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to major in biochemistry.”
“I will likely go to graduate school after my Bachelor’s degree to get either a Master’s degree or PhD. I hope to get a job as a therapeutic or pharmaceutical research scientist after my education.”
Nelson is also a part of a number of organizations such as Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), serving as its President, and Student Cooperative Association (SCA) Executive Board.
Since May is AP exam season, it left me wondering how Nelson handles the stress of exams, classes, and extracurricular activities.
“Firstly, I always make time for my hobbies like working out, so that I don’t get too burnt out. I also always make time for my friends and loved ones. They keep me happy and motivated when I’m stressed out,” she said.
Nelson also described some of her study habits that she believed helped her to excel academically:
“I have a couple. Firstly, I always have a to-do list of all the assignments I need to do with due dates. I also always make sure to prioritize them based on their due dates, how long they will take to complete, and their importance.” Nelson stated.
“I also always try to make use of any time I can to do assignments in school so that I don’t have to do them at home. Lastly, it’s always helped me to study in silence, without other people around and with as little distractions as possible. I use the noise cancelling feature on my airpods or listen to white noise, and I go to the library if I know I need to focus extra hard on something.”
As much as there is to talk about regarding her academics, I wanted to expand on her personality to get a sense of the type of person she is outside of school.
When asked what she does whenever she has free time, Nelson stated, “I enjoy working out. I go to the gym every day that I have time. I do CrossFit, so I mainly like high-intensity workouts, and I love lifting my weights. I also like to make artwork when I have time.”
Senior Rida Asim, Nelson’s friend since middle school, described what their friendship was like.
“I’d describe my friendship with Cara as genuine and nostalgic. We basically grew up together and watched each other become our own people over the years while still staying close. I think we’ve both influenced each other a lot, which is what makes our friendship so special to me.”
Another friend of Nelson’s, Senior Trang Bui explained how being friends with her has had an effect on her life.
“She’s been super encouraging and helpful throughout high school, always helping with schoolwork and any questions. She introduced me to FBLA and really helped me out of my comfort zone.
When asked to describe Nelson with one word, Asim and Bui both gave different but positive answers:
Ambitious and Whimsical.
Finally, Nelson leaves Landstown High School’s upcoming seniors with a few words of advice:
“Try to mitigate senioritis as much as you can. It’s bound to happen, but just try to stay motivated for as long as possible. It’s definitely hard balancing everything in school with college applications and scholarships, but it does get better. You just have to keep pushing.”
