JHS Class of 2007 Valedictorian, Salutatorian
Patel, Dean recall 'blur' of high school
By: KATIE WALDROP Staff Writer

VALEDICTORIAN AND SALUTATORIAN - Rickesh "Ricky" Patel is Jasper High School's top ranked student with a GPA of 102.784. Logan Dean is second, with 99.773. Newsboy photo/ Sharon Kerr

Finishing top of their class, the valedictorian and salutatorian of the Jasper High School, 2007 graduating class are, Rickesh "Ricky" Patel and Joshua Logan Dean.

"High school was a blur," said Dean. "It went by so fast."

Both are preparing their college plans for after graduation.

Patel plans to attend Texas A&M at Bryan College Station and Dean plans to attend Baylor University in Waco.

As Patel and Dean prepare for college they look at leaving home in a similar way.

"There is a feeling of wanting to be independent and being by myself, but at the same time there is a feeling of not wanting to leave home," Patel said. "I want to stay with my family and friends because of the memories we have made."

"I have mixed feelings," Dean said. "I am sad about leaving my friends, but it will be good for me to start over. I am excited."

Patel plans to pursue his major in engineering. He has not yet decided what he will do with his major when finished, but he has personal goals set in mind to achieve through his college years.

"My goal is to find out more about myself, my strengths and weaknesses," Patel said. "I want to find my purpose for this adventure people call life."

Dean plans to pursue his major in music. To start he would like to play in a symphony and eventually be able to teach music at a university level.

As Patel chose a college to attend, he took time and thought about his decision.

"I was first drawn to A&M after Ronnie Pickle, my spiritual mentor, told me that A&M had a strong central Christian core. I prayed about it and I felt that God was telling me to go to Texas A&M."

For Dean, attending Baylor seems to run in the family.

"Both my sisters went there, so I got to visit a lot," Dean said. "They have a strong music program so I auditioned and got accepted."

Both Patel and Dean agree on at least one idea to offer to upcoming freshman, "It goes by fast."

"Don't procrastinate like I did," Patel said. "If you want a solid GPA you have to do well your first years, so don't joke around with academics. Your four years of high school will pass by quickly. Don't always look to succeed because you are going to graduate, but enjoy the present time."

"Enjoy it while you can, but get started on college stuff early," Dean said. "It goes by fast."

Patel's high school experience primarily made social changes in his life.

"High school was the Aminor aspect of my teen years," Patel said. "There were more events occurring outside of high school. High school did help me grow as occurrences there brought me to an awakening experience, I was a quiet boy, but at the end I was more out spoken."

Both Patel and Dean have made it clear they have each received knowledge from high school, but they have obtained more than just their 'learning' experience.

"I have seen how to be socially involved with fellow students and faculty," Patel said.

"I have gained great experiences and have made a lot of life long friends," Dean said.

Both Patel and Dean have expectations for their college life, and they both know the hard work they will have to produce to achieve success.

"I expect to grow independently and get more responsibilities heaved on my shoulders," Patel said. "I expect college to be a new learning experience, which will be different from high school. I will have to push myself as my family will not be there to do that for me."

"I expect it to be a big jump from the type of work I do now," Dean said. "I will be doing music most, pretty much all of my time, but that's what I enjoy, music."