Considering his roots, Caleb Ashbrook's plan to enlist in medical school and then the Navy makes good sense: One grandfather served with the Marines in Vietnam, and the other was a Medical Corps veteran and ophthalmologist who started a nonprofit to provide eye surgeries for the poor around the world. <\/p>\n
As one of this year's most accomplished seniors, Ashbrook, 18, will take the stage as salutatorian next week to welcome thousands of people to Fallbrook High School's 2012 commencement. <\/p>\n
I sat down with Ashbrook in the bleachers at Warriors Stadium on Monday as he explained that his 4.5 grade-point average has been the result of a lifelong dream and more than a little competitiveness. <\/p>\n
\"I've known that I wanted to go into the medical field from a really young age, so I kind of knew that if I wanted to get into a (good) university, that's what I needed to do,\" he said, adding with a grin: \"I also like being able to say I'm number one or two\" in the grade books. <\/p>\n
At every high school, each class of graduates delivers a few shining examples of academic and athletic accomplishment, and Ashbrook certainly fits the bill. <\/p>\n
As an athlete, he played on the soccer, golf and cross-country teams, overcoming a recent knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus. <\/p>\n
His academic record is spotless ---- expect nothing less from a kid whose mother runs her own kindergarten ---- and he is wrapping up a term as the student representative to the school board. <\/p>\n
Recalling a few late-night board meetings, I asked Ashbrook if he had fallen asleep yet, and he laughed knowingly. <\/p>\n
\"During the financials, it gets pretty bad, I'm not gonna lie,\" he said. <\/p>\n
But it has been an interesting year to be sitting at the table, he added: \"There's been some interesting stuff going on with all the cuts. They had to make, like, $2 million in cuts ---- I'd never wrapped my head around how much money this school has to deal with. I didn't even know how much we cost.\" <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
See original here: Considering his roots, Caleb Ashbrook's plan to enlist in medical school and then the Navy makes good sense: One grandfather served with the Marines in Vietnam, and the other was a Medical Corps veteran and ophthalmologist who started a nonprofit to provide eye surgeries for the poor around the world. Continue reading
\nPFINGSTEN: Class of 2012 salutatorian has big plans<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"