Each week, the Shreveport-Bossier Journal’s Tony Taglavore takes to lunch a local person – someone well-know, successful, or influential, and asks, “What’s Your Story?”
By TONY TAGLAVORE, Journal Services
He is Louisiana’s first, three-time (that’s right, THREE-TIME) Student of the Year.
He recently graduated number one in his Benton High School class of 270 students, with a 4.49 grade point average.
He has never – ever – made less than an “A” in any class.
But you know what really impressed Zach Cryer more than his own accomplishments?
“Being recognized on the Raising Cane’s sign on Airline Drive was the coolest thing ever. You drive by that every single day. I have friends that saw it and texted me. I thought that was so awesome. I don’t know why it was that significant to me. I really don’t. But it was really awesome.”
The 18-year-old, who will soon head to Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, told me the story of perfect grades – and his leadership and volunteer achievements – at a place of his choosing, Walk-On’s, in Bossier City. Zach had a shrimp po-boy, French fries, and water to drink. I enjoyed my usual, the Chicken Berry Pecan salad with dressing on the side, and water.
“I’ve always been curious. If I learn a concept, I really want to understand it completely, so I can start telling others about it . . . . I remember from a very young age going to school and wanting to learn as much as I could, so I could go home and tell my parents about it.”
In fact, Zach’s love for learning began at home.
“My mom is an educator (current librarian and former 4th grade teacher), so education has always been a priority in our household. She taught me to read at a very young age. We’ve always read books. We’ve always studied. She’s always encouraged me to learn . . . . I had a love for learning. I wanted to continue learning and have as much exposure to knowledge and reading as I could.”
But no way is Zach about to take all the credit for his schoolhouse smarts.
“We’re big in our faith, and I believe God put me in those classrooms for a reason. He’s always granted me the most amazing teachers, even from a very young age. A part of having fun being at school is being in a teacher’s classroom, where that teacher has a passion to teach. I believe that passion is contagious. Whenever they would teach passionately, I would start learning and get more excited to learn, because you could see they were excited to teach.”
For some, learning comes naturally. Others must study often and hard. Zach falls somewhere in between.
“I don’t think my academic success comes from being massively intelligent like a lot of my friends. I just feel like it comes from a willingness to learn. I think that sets me apart. I’m willing to learn, and willing to learn about a lot of different things. There’s nothing I just know extensively about because I am so able to absorb knowledge. I just love learning, and I love being able to relate that love of learning to other people.”
Speaking of friends, Zach, who has a younger sister, is pretty popular. Not because everyone wants to hang with the smart guy, but because Zach’s friends are smart, also.
“I really don’t think friendship should be about competition or envy. If those things exist, those people really aren’t your friends anyway. With my friends, I don’t talk about a lot of the stuff I do. It’s not why we’re there. Those are things you talk about with business acquaintances. We really don’t compete because we’re all involved with our own things.”
I’m pretty sure I didn’t have business acquaintances when I was 18.
You would be impressed if I told you Zach has devoted all his free time to academics. But he hasn’t, which adds even more luster to what Zach has done. He’s been involved in extracurricular activities like basketball and track. He’s pursued leadership roles (President of Louisiana’s 4-H chapter) and is active in volunteerism.
And still, Zach touched the state’s highest academic bar – three times.
“School was the number one priority, and grades were the number one priority. Being in 4-H, being in student council, playing sports, those are privileges. But education is the main goal – to graduate and go to a good school . . . . Having good grades is a goal I will never compromise.”
But college is a whole different ballgame from Legacy Elementary, Kingston Elementary, Benton Middle School, and Benton High – all schools Zach attended. New city. Big campus. Learning to yell “Tiger Bait!” at visiting football fans. So, you can understand Zach being a bit nervous about what’s to come.
“There is a bit of intimidation. Classes are obviously going to be a little bit harder. But I know it’s not going to be anything I can’t get through.”
Zach will major in Nutrition Pre-Med. After four years of college, four years of medical school, and three-to-five years of training, he plans to be a rheumatologist.
“I’m willing to go through it, and I know it will be worthwhile in the end. I’m really glad I’ve had such important educational influences around me my entire life, that have given me that love of learning and that willingness to go on to the next level. I feel like without that passion for learning, I wouldn’t be able to stick with it for the next 11 or 12 years.”
But surely in college, Zach can’t continue his classroom dominance of making straight A’s, can he?
“I don’t want to lay down any predictions. It will be different, and something I’ve never experienced. To put any expectation on that is a bit unrealistic, and you’re setting yourself up for failure. I’m still going to strive to do my best. I’m still going to look to do the best I possibly can. But what that best is, we’ll see. If it’s keeping A’s in all classes, that’s amazing. If it’s A’s and B’s, that’s also great.”
Feeling as dumb as a box of rocks, and assuming Zach had to leave and learn some math equation with a bunch of symbols, I asked my final question. As always, what is it about his life story that can be helpful to others? Zach chose to address your son or daughter, who may just be beginning their student life.
“The only thing that really separates my journey from a student who hasn’t started yet is the attitude. Aggressiveness, and whether you want to be successful and you do what it takes to be successful, or just kind of check the boxes. I feel like that’s the only thing that would be influential, that separates the level of success I’ve been able to achieve, from nothing at all.”
Leaving our lunch, I certainly didn’t feel any smarter. In fact, I felt less smart. But I’m saving Zach’s contact information. In 15 years or so, if I am alive and in need of a rheumatologist, I will know who to call.
Do you know someone with a story? Email SBJTonyT@gmail.com.