Crescent Height High School Valedictorian Micheal MacIntosh poses for a photo in front of the school. MacIntosh hopes to open his own dentistry clinic in Medicine Hat after attending the University of Alberta.--NEWS PHOTO BRENDAN MILLER
bmiller@medicinehatnews.com
This year’s class valedictorian at Crescent Heights High School has aspirations of becoming a dentist in Medicine Hat, or perhaps a teacher in physics or chemistry, but before that, Micheal MacIntosh plans to spend a year at Medicine Hat College before moving to Edmonton to attend the University of Alberta.
Last month MacIntosh was “tricked” by his parents, teachers and school principal, who held a surprise parade to inform the Grade 12 student he was this year’s valedictorian, earning the highest academic standing in his graduating class.
“They originally said I had to help upload something from a truck, but their stories didn’t match,” recalls MacIntosh. “I still went out anyway and there was no truck, it was a bunch of cars honking.”
The graduate says he excels in subjects including math and physics, and plans to stay in Medicine Hat next year to complete a university science transfer program at the college.
If all goes according to plan, MacIntosh will move to Edmonton the following year and attend the U of A to wrap up his general classes and move on toward getting accepted into the dentistry program.
I always just wanted a job where I can help people, and do what I can for them,” explains MacIntosh. “But I don’t want to be a doctor, I don’t think I’d be able to do it, so I just prefer to focus on teeth specifically.”
If successful, MacIntosh hopes to one day open his own office in his hometown.
“If I do get the degree, I’ll move back to Medicine Hat and hopefully open my own clinic.”
Like most high school grads, moving to another city to attend a post-secondary institution will be his first experience living away from home.
“I’m a little bit nervous, because I’ve never really been on my own.”
MacIntosh says he has a systemic thinking style and gravitates toward subjects like math, physics and chemistry, which offer concrete solutions to problems. MacIntosh also played basketball in middle school and continues to play soccer.
In the First Grade, McIntosh was identified as a gifted student and has been taking advanced courses throughout his entire academic career. And behind him during every success and challenge he faced through school, his parents always encouraged him to do his best.
“They’ve always just encouraged me to work as hard as I possibly can at anything, and they say, ‘We don’t care what you do, as long as you try your best at it.'”
Admittedly soft spoken, MacIntosh wanted his valedictorian speech to motivate his fellow classmates to follow their dreams after high school.
“I’m going to tell them, we can do it and look forward to the future,” he told the News in a recent interview.
Looking back on his time at Crescent Heights, MacIntosh says he has found countless memories with his friends and his teachers.
“I definitely made a lot of memories with the other students in my grad class, and the teachers were really good,” says MacIntosh, “I’ll remember my math and science teachers especially, because those are my favourite subjects.”
Crescent Heights held its graduation ceremony for the Class of 2025 on June 4.
