Over the past four years, North Atlanta High School senior Fraser Pearson has amassed an impressive list of accolades and accomplishments.
In addition to serving in the North Atlanta High School Army JROTC, Fraser has worked as a lifeguard and YMCA summer counselor, earned his Eagle Scout award, and logged over 250 community service hours – all while achieving the prestigious Legion of Valor Bronze Cross award and maintaining an A average in school.
A leader in his school and community, Fraser credits laser-like focus and excellent time management skills with being a well-balanced student.
“When I first entered high school, I knew I wanted to attend a good college and to be and do my the best,” said Fraser, who serves as Battalion Commander of the North Atlanta High School Army JROTC. “In order to do this, I had to have the best possible grades while also having the most diverse set of accolades I could get.”
“I’m a very big believer that if you want something, you can achieve anything you want,” he continued. “If I wanted to go to Harvard or an Ivy League school, I would have been much more harder on myself, but that wasn’t what I wanted. I wanted to be balanced.”
During his sophomore year, Fraser decided on the college he wanted to attend: The University of Georgia.
That’s when he began focusing on his goal.
“There were so many nights from freshman to senior year, where I burned the midnight oil and stayed up until 1 or 2 a.m. to finish assignments,” he said. “I was tired and exhausted, but I earned the grade, and I could take pride in my work because I had a good GPA. I knew I was doing all of it for college.”
With his parents’ encouragement, Fraser continues to take responsibility for both his academic and personal life. He successfully manages his own schedule and looks forward to attending UGA in the fall.
“Right now, I’m focusing on what’s going to impact me immediately and long term,” he said. “While I’m always keeping my eyes ahead, I keep my eyes on the road as well. I plan to go to college to get a feel for what I want to do. I’m definitely looking to find out.”
Mature beyond his years, Fraser also has some sage advice for his peers.
“Keep looking in front of you. Keep looking behind you. See how far you’ve come, and see what’s ahead of you. If you keep that mindset, you will always succeed. Know what you want, and you can get it. Think about what you have to do to get there. Keep pushing.”
| College/University | The University of Georgia |
| Intended Major | Undeclared |
| Career Goal | Undecided |
| Awards/Recognition | Legion of Valor Bronze Cross Award; North Atlanta High School Army JROTC; Eagle Scout Award; 250 community service hours |
Atlanta Public Schools will host high school commencement exercises Saturday, May 18 – Friday, May 24, 2019. All ceremonies — except Atlanta Classical Academy and Charles R. Drew Charter School — will be held at Georgia Institute of Technology, McCamish Pavilion,965 Fowler Street, NW, Atlanta, GA 30318. For more information on commencement exercises, go to http://www.atlantapublicschools.us/gradnation.
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