By Blake Deshazo
The Demopolis Times

High school graduation is a big moment for a senior. It is the culmination of many years of studying and dreaming of the future. Jeremy Chu, who will soon walk across the stage and get his diploma, is the valedictorian for the Demopolis High School class of 2015.

Chu has always been one of the top students in his class, but when he got the news a few weeks ago about being valedictorian, it came as quite a surprise.

“It was a bit of a surprise because there was three or four of us that were like neck and neck for as long as I can remember,” Chu said. “It was a pleasant surprise obviously, but it was a surprise.”

Chu isn’t quite sure what his exact grade point average is, but he does know it is above 4.0, and it is something he is pretty proud of.

“It is just a reflection of my hard work in the classroom. It is like a badge sort of,” Chu said.

Getting good grades is something Chu has always enjoyed.

“You just want to see yourself carrying that test grade back, whether it is a 100 or a 95,” Chu said. “It is just a minor reward for your hard work for however much you studied.”

The importance of an education is something his parents have instilled in him since he was a young child.

“I was brought up knowing that education was a top priority because it will bring you success and that it would make my life a lot easier in the long run,” Chu said.

“My parents told me that if you don’t have an education, life is going to be more difficult. Not necessarily that you can’t be successful without an education, but if you have an education, paths open up for you to do what you want.”

Chu will attend the University of Alabama at Birmingham in the fall, where he plans to study to become a doctor. The Chu family is no stranger to practicing medicine. Chu’s father, Ronnie, runs a practice in Demopolis.

“[My dad] always talked about how helping a person brightens your day when they come back and say thank you for improving their life, and that is what I want to do —  help people so they can live better lives,” Chu said.

Lucy, Jeremy’s mother, couldn’t be more proud of her son.

“I am very proud of him, but I am even more happy for him and his accomplishments,” Lucy said. “I’m happy that he is at this crossroads of his life. He’s got to move on and get more education and do what he has a passion for.”