In the midst of preparing for their gradation speeches, Rockdale County High School's valedictorian, Brooke Gable, and salutatorian, Brianna Patton said even though they were surprised to find out their academic standing, they knew one way or another their hard work had to pay off.

Brooke Gable, Valedictorian

Gable, who has an unweighted grade point average of a 4.2, said she could finally exhale when the school announced her as valedictorian.

"It's very overwhelming. Since I was a freshman I set out to do my best and I put my all into it," said Gable.

The 18-year-old loves to sing and is part of the advanced women's chorus, Beta Club, Interact Club and has taken six AP classes all throughout her high school career.

"Out of it all, AP calculus has been my hardest class," said Gable. "But what was hard also was persevering. Many times I could have settled for a lesser grade, but it's just about keeping up with everything.

Gable, who also enjoys community service, volunteers at the Salvation Army, helps feed the hungry and through her involvement with the Interact Club, has helped made Water Pasteurization Indicators, thermometers that indicate when water is safe to drink, for Haiti and other third world countries.

"I have worked very hard, but I am also very appreciative," said Gable.

Then senior has plans to attend University of Georgia to obtain a master's in psychology and minor in English.

Brianna Patton, Salutatorian

Patton is not only a star on the courts, but also on the report cards. The 5-foot-9 small forward and shooting guard said maintaining her grades was a balancing act between varsity basketball, varsity softball, Beta Club and National Honors Society.

After learning she placed for salutatorian, she said she did not know if she would have made it or not.

"It was really close with me and this other boy. I had an expectation to excel in school, but I didn't expect to finish first or second," Patton said.

Even with her hard work, she said she still managed to make time for socializing just as long as all her school work was done which consisted of AP World History, AP U.S. History, AP psychology and AP Language and Composition. However, in agreement with Gable, AP calculus was her most challenging high school class.

"It was the first academic core class that I made a B in," said Patton.

Despite that obstacle, Patton still managed to excel in English Dual Enrollment classes through Georgia Perimeter College.

"I made an A both semesters in Dual Enrollment," said Patton. "It was an overall good experience to see the difference between high school and college." In college classes, students aren't walked through every step, she said.

College is not too far away for the graduating senior will be attending UGA as a sports management major and a journalism minor.