Monsignor McCoy High School 2024 valedictorian Even Ma and salutatorian Rylan Watt pose for a photo outside the high school Monday.--NEWS PHOTO BRENDAN MILLER
bmiller@medicinehatnews.com
Monsignor McCoy valedictorian Even Ma told his graduating class to “be happy in the moments rather than happy in the future” during his graduation speech, hoping to convey an enjoyment of the present moment in life and not focusing too much on the future.
The recent graduate has put a little thought into his future, however as Ma says, he has plans to study chemistry at the University of Lethbridge in the fall, with hopes of becoming a medical doctor and opening a practice here in Medicine Hat.
“I want to make an impact on southern Alberta because there’s not many doctors here,” says Ma. “So I want to help the people here and I feel like going to med school is the definite way to go.
“Chemistry mostly leads to the Medical College Admission Test, so it just makes the most sense to take chemistry there.”
Ma says his passion for math and science began to blossom in junior high school.
“That’s when I started to realize I’m actually good at this and I really enjoy it.”
In Grade 10 Ma taught himself the entire curriculum of AP high school math courses and completed all exams to fast track ahead.
“I just got the textbooks online and I just self taught it,” explains Ma. “I took the tests and I actually got ahead of the advanced placement class, so I was doing Grade 12 math around Grade 10.
Ma says he is going to apply his work-ethic and love for science and numbers toward his time in university.
“I’m very determined and I know what I want.”
Ma will be living with roommates on campus in Lethbridge and says he’s “very excited for something different and excited to be on my own.”
Ma was raised in Medicine Hat, his mother works at the hospital as a speech language pathologist and his father is a technician with TELUS, but he says his biggest inspiration comes from his older sister who is studying audiology online at the University of Utah.
“She taught me everything about school and how to study and stuff, so I really owe it to her.”
Overall, teachers say Ma had a “slightly higher GPA” than Grade 12 salutatorian Rylan Watt who is planning to study engineering at the University of Calgary next fall.
Watt says is excited to see where engineering will take him throughout university and says he is also interested in physiotherapy.
The senior class of 2024 held its graduation mass and ceremony on May 23 at Holy Family Parish and the Cypress Centre, and held its banquet and dance May 24.
Valedictorian is generally determined by a student’s GPA but also factors in volunteer work, extra-curricular activities and scholastic awards.
