Metuchen H.S. Top 3 talk of life after high school Co-valedictorians and salutatorian have fond memories of high school BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer METUCHEN - It just hasn't kicked in yet. That's what Metuchen High School's top three students - co-valedictorians Theresa Donohue and Soha Shah and salutatorian Victor Thomas - said the day after they had received their diplomas during the graduation ceremony in the high school auditorium on June 21. The three addressed their graduating class of 140 seniors at the ceremony. The three said it was the start of junior year when they started paying attention to their class rank and grade point averages, which colleges and universities consider when looking at student applications. On June 18, the three found out who was valedictorian and who was salutatorian, but it came as a surprise. "We found out about our class ranks earlier in the year," said Donohue, who said she knew that she and Shah were battling between the No. 1 and No. 2 spots. "I knew I was third, but pretty far behind them," said Thomas. The school made the announcement on the loudspeaker June 18. "They kept on referring to the salutatorian as 'he' and it made me start panicking," said Shah. Thomas said that even he was panicking, because he was wondering whom he would hurt. Then, in a split second, the three were elated. Donohue and Shah were selected as co-valedictorians and Thomas was salutatorian. "We definitely didn't expect it to be like that," said Donohue. The three Metuchen High School graduates said they were excited about starting college in the fall and were looking forward to relaxing during the summer and spending time with family and friends. Donohue, 18, who played the clarinet in the various bands and orchestras in high school, played the piano, swam on the swim team, and was a peer leader, is bound for Boston College this fall. "I had a group of colleges I was choosing from, and it really came down to Boston College and Tufts University," said Donohue, who said her older sister is at Boston College and another sister had gone to Tufts University. "I also really like the Boston area." When asked what she would like to study in college, Donohue said she doesn't know yet. Unlike Donohue, Shah and Thomas had their eyes set on their schools and applied for early decisions. Shah, 17, who ran cross-country and track, played the French horn in the various bands and orchestras in high school, played the piano, and was a member of the student council, is bound for Princeton University this fall. "I want to study something in science, either biology or chemistry," she said. Thomas, 18, who played soccer and ran track, was a member of the choral club and student council, played the piano, and was part of the Footlighters drama club, will be attending Washington University in St. Louis this fall. "I entered the Architecture School program, which is flexible in the arts and sciences," said Thomas, who added that he would like to study engineering and do some environmental studies. The three said they would miss the valuable friendships they have made in high school, but not so much the small-town feel of Metuchen. "As you grow up, everyone knows you," said Donohue. She said in her graduation speech that "Growing up in a small town and attending a relatively small high school creates a unique situation - we do not have strictly defined social cliques, our athletes are also actors, our musicians also run student government, and so forth." Donohue said, "It would be nice to be anonymous for a little bit." Shah agreed. "Everyone has known what you have done since kindergarten," she said. Thomas said he would miss watching his classmates grow up every year. "When we enter college, we enter as an adult," he said. The three said they especially would not miss the construction at the high school, which has been going on daily throughout the school year and even delayed the start of school this past year. "I even decided not to go to a school I visited because they had a lot of construction," said Thomas, who mentioned the construction as "fields uprooted, lockers ripped out, and flooring relaid" in his graduation speech. The three look to relax these few months before they have to start shopping for dorm-room necessities. Donohue said she plans to continue her job as a lifeguard at the Metuchen YMCA and has plans to go on a camping trip with friends and a vacation to Puerto Rico with her family. Thomas said he has planned a one-week trip to Thailand, and then he plans to spend time working at What's the Scoop on Main Street and hang out with his friends. Shah said she plans to continue her job as a pool gatekeeper at the Metuchen Municipal Pool and also hang out with her friends.