Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

When Kylah Johnson found out she was named LaGrange High School’s 2025 Valedictorian, it was a dream, years in the making, come true.

“I was very excited,” Johnson shared. “I’ve been working toward this since elementary school. I even told my aunt that I wanted to be valedictorian. So, I was very excited, and it was kind of like a weight off my shoulders, just because I’ve been working so hard, and I was worried that I wasn’t going to get it, because it was really close, so I was really relieved and excited.”

Her high school extracurriculars include cheer for football and basketball and Secretary of the Drama Club.

Outside of school, she is an active member of the Rotary Club and Vice President of the Key Club for the Troup County area. Key Club is an international service-oriented club that inducts its members and elects its officers.

 Johnson also volunteered as a camp counselor for four summers at Turn Around Christian Summer Camp.

“It has been really fun. And I really enjoyed it, because I got to help the children just be themselves and have fun. But, also, sometimes they got hurt because they’re children, and then I got to help them with that, and I just really like being around them,” Johnson stated.

Johnson will attend the University of Georgia, majoring in biology on a pre-med track with aspirations of becoming a pediatrician.

“I love working with children, and since I like to dance, I’m also thinking about studying how dance affects the body,” Johnson said.

Kylah credits her parents for much of her success, sharing some wisdom they always gave her: “Seek wise counsel.” 

“Just make sure that you go speak to people that know what they’re talking about, because there’s always someone that’s an expert in whatever you’re trying to figure out, and just having the mindset to go seek those people out…rather than waiting until I’m further down the line and I’m struggling,” Johnson adds.

Her path to success hasn’t been without its challenges. From struggling through online Algebra during the COVID-19 pandemic to adjusting to the demanding IB (International Baccalaureate) curriculum, she’s had to adapt and grow.

“One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is understanding how I learn,” Johnson said. “Figuring out that I need hands-on learning and knowing how to find help, whether through YouTube videos or asking teachers.”

One teacher who stood out to Johnson was Mr. Kemper, her drama instructor.

“All of my teachers have impacted me academically and as a person, but Mr. Kemper was my first introduction to being taught how to be myself. He helped me become comfortable with speaking out and being on stage and just being myself. He has a way of making sure that you know that you can be comfortable being yourself. Even if it’s silly, because he’s going to be more silly than you. And I just really appreciate him for that,” Johnson said.

Despite her academic reputation, Kylah surprises many when revealing her competitive streak. 

“Most people see me as the studious type, but I love games and team sports. I really enjoy competing and collaborating,” Johnson said.

Among her favorite senior year memories was the school’s production of Footloose, her final musical performance. 

“I love to dance, so I was really excited that we had a dance-heavy one, and then just being in it with all of my friends, because a lot of them are in drama club with me and I’ve known them since elementary school, and we’ve done shows all four years, and just being able to do our last musical together was amazing ” Johnson shares, “And then just recently, I finished playing Senior Assassin, which is like a water gun thing done outside of school. It’s basically a game that the whole class can play and you get a target, and you have to figure out how to get them with your water gun. It was just a lot of fun because I got to play with people that I don’t usually get to see and hang out with, since we all have different schedules and a lot of different things going on.”

Johnson’s advice to younger students: “Don’t limit yourself even if you think you like one thing or even multiple things that have nothing to do with each other. Go try to pursue them all because even if they seem incredibly different, there’s going to be an overlap. You never know what you might like. I didn’t think I would like drama club, but I love it. And I didn’t think I would be a good cheerleader, but I am. And some people would say those things are really different, cheer and drama, and in some ways they are, but then you figure out that there are similarities.”

As she prepares to deliver her valedictorian speech, Kylah Johnson would like to leave one message here: “Live every moment to the fullest, and don’t get hung up on what you can and can’t do in that moment.”