This Henry trio stayed organized and finished with straight A’s
The 2023 Henry High School valedictorians are, from left, Sofia De Jesus Hernandez-Limas, Lija Vang and Molly Minnema. Photo courtesy of Alex Conover
By David Pierini, Editor, and Victoria Mustin, Henry High School
Every valedictorian has a close call. As they allow the accomplishment to soak in, they remember the class, teacher or busy schedule that nearly kept them from achieving a perfect grade point average.
But it wasn’t a tough class or stickler for rules that nearly upended Henry High School’s three valedictorians, each leading the class of 2023 with a 4.0 grade point average.
Lija Vang, Molly Minnema and Sofia De Jesus Hernandez-Limas conquered the quagmire of remote learning during a historic pandemic.
The world shuttered nearly all its public spaces, including schools, in 2020 as a containment strategy for COVID-19. A system they were mastering as freshmen suddenly switched over to an uncertain and hastily organized method of remote learning.
Teachers have described this period as “building the plane as you fly.” For students, virtual classrooms and the home isolation frayed focus and delicate psyches. Grades dropped for many students, some of whom went silent and off-camera after signing in.
Even for Lija, Molly and Sofia, COVID proved their biggest challenge. They each had three quarters under their belts when the pandemic changed school routines.
A self-described Type-A personality, Molly was a kid who always loved math. Trying to learn it remotely, she fell out of love with it and math grades nearly slipped.
Sofia, warm and attentive in conversation, sees relationship building as key to her success. She said she felt unmoored her sophomore year not being able to directly meet and interact face to face with her teachers.
Lija said she had grown used to being supported by a network of family and friends. Asked three words that described her freshman year, she responds, “Hard, depressing, lonely.”
“It was the hardest time, but we also learned a lot from that, too,” Lija said. “We all have come so far. I believe everybody should be valedictorian.”
Wearing red robes and square caps, 191 Henry seniors crossed the stage of the Minneapolis Convention Center on June 11 in the ceremonious passage into early adulthood.
Lija opted to let Sofia and Molly give the customary valedictorian speech.
Lija and Sofia may bump into each other over the next four years on the campus of the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, where Sofia already is taking classes. Lija will study business while Sofia takes a love for robotics, cultivated since the third grade, to study mechanical or aeronautical engineering.
Molly will play college volleyball and study exercise science at the University of Sioux Falls in South Dakota.
Each set out to get the best grades possible to reach college. Achieving valedictorian was not always in their sights. Sofia may have felt a slight expectation since her sister, Nayeli, was Henry’s valedictorian in 2020.
“My mom was kind of like, ‘OK, now you also have to be valedictorian,’” Sofia said. “It wasn’t really pressure. It was kind of fun.”
Molly became more aware of her shot her junior year. A natural competitor and goal setter from playing volleyball, Molly excelled through school and sports with a white board, jotting down goals and obligations for each day of the month.
“I’ve always been an athlete and I knew since middle school that I wanted to pursue volleyball in college,” Molly said. “If I kept my grades high, then more college coaches would look at me as academically and athletically successful.”
The three valedictorians each walked their own path yet operated with the same work ethos. This was their advice:
Molly: “Just write things down. That’s what works for me because I don’t want to forget anything. Stick to certain due dates, try to do a little bit everyday and communicate with your teachers, especially if you’re struggling.”
Sofia: “I wouldn’t say I was as organized but it helped to keep a planner with me and writing things down helped me to remember. It’s never easy to get good at stuff. Keep trying. Don’t give up on the experience.”
Lija: “I would say don’t procrastinate and just be you. You shine the brightest when you are you and you work hard. You can cry, you can stress, but just get your work in.”
Editor’s note: Co-author and North News student contributor Victoria Mustin was among the 191 seniors to graduate this year from Henry. She is headed to Texas for college.