They’re at the Top of Their Class

Julia Mix Barrington ’08 and George Posner ’08, the valedictorian and salutatorian of their class, are headed in opposite directions, career-wise—she wants to be a food writer; he’s undecided, but is leaning toward studying “how people work, and why people on a societal, macroscopic level, do what they do.” But they share two traits in common: families that supported intellectual curiosity, and a willingness to work hard.

For Posner, who heads to Claremont McKenna College this fall, time management has become an art. He offers this advice for those wishing to boost their effectiveness: “Adjust your habits according to your past performance. If you need large time chunks, find them; if you have work you can break off at any point, carry some with you for free time. Work in your room if that works for you; if it doesn't, find someplace that does. In the end, though, your work will only get done if you care enough.”

Mix-Barrington, who’s off to Barnard College of Columbia University, prescribes beauty rest, but not in place of studying: “Just bite the bullet and get it done. Then you’ll have time later to do other stuff. And never, never cram—get as much sleep as possible. There’s nothing better than a good night’s sleep.”

Read George Posner's Baccalaureate speech here.