TAMPA — Ali Hamad’s lowest grade-point average was in his sophomore year, when he ranked ninth in his class.
It seemed far-fetched that he could surpass eight other students to become valedictorian. That changed after taking his first dual-enrollment class sophomore year.
He was dual-enrolled in an AP microeconomics class through Florida Virtual School. Based on that alone, he jumped three ranks to sixth place by the fall of his junior year.
“Wait a minute, what if I just keep doing this?” Hamad said he thought to himself. “Let me see where this takes me.”
He took two dual-enrollment classes each semester and three the summer before senior year — the maximum allowed. Going into his senior year, he was ranked second.
Motivated to excel
His mother saw his potential and wouldn’t let him waste it. She made it clear from a young age that grades were important.
“She felt like I was capable of getting straight A’s,” Hamad said. “Especially back in middle school and then in high school she was like, ‘Why waste that potential?’ If you know you can do it, then why get a B?”
She may have pushed him in middle school, but going into sophomore year, he found internal motivation.
Support was key
When he learned in February that he had officially earned the top spot, he was most excited to tell his parents. They were relieved because competition had been tight.
His maternal aunt, who lives in South Florida, was the most excited. She checked in frequently on his progress and cheered him on.
One of his biggest supporters was English teacher Joseph Kelly, whose classes he took both sophomore and junior years. Kelly, whom Hamad described as engaging with vast subject knowledge, offered assistance with transcript troubles, motivation and encouragement.
“He told me, ‘Honestly, if my son grew up to be like you, I would have felt like I succeeded as a father.’ I haven’t really told him this yet … I think that left a big impact on me. It really made me feel like I was doing something right, especially when not everyone’s on your side when it comes to stuff like this, even sometimes adults too.”
A bright future
Hamad applied to several Florida schools — the University of Florida, the University of South Florida, Florida State University and the University of Miami — and “for fun” New York University. NYU was the only one he didn’t get into.
Ultimately, he chose UF because of its ranking, family ties and because he felt like it’s time to step out on his own.
“To me this is uncomfortable — moving to UF and Gainesville and doing all of this,” he said. “It’s not the comfortable option, but I think that’s why I chose it because … I felt like everyone has to do it, right?”
Hamad has a strong sense of justice and wants to be a lawyer. He doesn’t know what type of law he wants to practice, but he knows he wants to do it for the right reason.
“You’re granted the ability that the average person won’t have when you’re a lawyer and then, at that point, you make a decision,” he said. “What are you going to use that for?”
That’s the message he hopes to share with his classmates in his speech: Be proud of who you are, your culture and what you believe in. Do the right thing. Stand up, instead of sitting silent.
“Because, eventually, if you don’t it’ll happen to you too and then there won’t be anyone there to defend you when things go wrong.”
