Meet the Val and Sal

LBHS Valedictorian Chandler McMillan

‘Living the American dream’

“The most influential person in my life is my grandmother,” said Long Beach High School’s valedictorian, Chandler McMillan. “She came to America as a teenager with no connections to build a better life for her family in Barbados. She overcame so many struggles and hardships to get where she is. She truly inspires me.”

Now two generation later, Chandler is living the American dream that her grandmother envisioned. As she heads off to Duke University on a full scholarship, she has her sights set on a career in medicine.

Chandler is an International Baccalaureate diploma candidate, an AP Scholar with Honor, a member of the National Honor Society and the secretary of the Future Physicians Club.

She was also named an outstanding participant in the National Achievement Scholarship Program. Active in science research, she has won multiple awards at local and regional competitions. Named an alternate this year in the All-State Mixed Chorus, Chandler is a five-time All-County vocalist. She is a vice president of the Tri-M Music Honor Society, a member of the select choir and a drum major for the marching band.

Through her years at Long Beach High, Chandler always kept her focus on pursuing interests and classes that she enjoyed, rather than just choosing activities that she thought would impress colleges.

“Sticking to that philosophy made high school more exciting and enjoyable for me, because I always felt like I was having fun even when things got stressful,” she said. “Doing things I really loved, like marching band, also gave me a sense of family and belonging.”

By following her passions, working hard and being true to herself, Chandler was able to fulfill her dream of becoming valedictorian. “One of my most memorable moments in high school was hearing my name announced on the loudspeaker as the valedictorian,” recalled Chandler. “It was like everything I had worked so hard for since middle school had finally paid off.”