Get to know MHS valedictorian Megan Flood
Megan Flood, 18, was born in Chicago, but now lives in Waukesha with her parents Keith and Karen and her "sassy" 9-year-old sister Haley, along with a rambunctious Samoyed named Sarabi. Flood graduated as one of four valedictorians from Mukwonago High School on May 31.
Employment
My vocation is that of a full-time student, but I also work junior golf camps in the summer, volunteer at the zoo, and babysit throughout the year.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
As a child, I never really thought about what I wanted to be when I grew up. I suppose this is because I never actually wanted to become an adult. I genuinely enjoyed my childhood and did not crave the responsibility and freedom that later years promised. I pretended to be a teacher, veterinarian and even an acrobat at times, but never seriously thought about what my future would hold.
What's the best advice you ever got?
My fourth-grade teacher had a sign in her room that said, "Don't make excuses, make improvements." Whenever we slipped up and tried to make an excuse, she would cut us off and ask us to read that sign aloud. I learned then and there that excuses solve nothing. No one wants to hear them, and they only waste time that could be used to fix the problem.
Who's the wisest person you know?
I have heard bits of wisdom from my grandparents, children I work with, friends, and even, on occasion, my parents. There have just been too many wise people in my life to denote one of them as "the wisest".
What are you passionate about?
Right now, I am passionate about being young. I compete in sports, academics, music, help in the community, and just have fun with the people I love. The vibrancy and passion that come from being young are incredible feelings, and I intend to take advantage of them while they last.
If you won the lottery today, what would you do tomorrow?
If I won the lottery today, I would definitely pay my way through college first. Then I'd send my family on a relaxing vacation as a thank-you for all they've done for me over the years. But before putting the rest in the bank, I would fulfill my selfish teenager quota and make the worst investment possible: a car. A subsequent road trip with my friends would follow my family's departure.
If you could invite anyone, past or present, to dinner, who would you invite?
I would love to invite my cousin Michael to dinner with me. He passed away when we were both in middle school and since our friendship was cut short, I never got the chance to say everything I wanted to say to him. I'd really like to see what kind of person he would be now and compare our post-graduation plans. Cracking a few jokes like we used to wouldn't hurt either.
What was your biggest regret?
I believe my biggest regret was letting stress and a fear of failure rule my life for so long. I literally worried myself sick, and probably missed out on some great opportunities because of it. I wish I had been more assertive, talked with a wider variety of people, and taken a larger bite out of life.
What was your proudest moment?
At the risk of sounding too cliche and being struck down by every English teacher I've ever had, my proudest moment occurred when I stood up in front of the crowd at graduation and delivered my commencement speech. Achieving this decade-long goal made all of my efforts seem worthwhile and convinced me that I really could do whatever I put my mind to. The people who told me I couldn't possibly balance all of my extracurriculars while maintaining my grades were wrong. I found balance, and I found a voice. I made myself proud.
Describe your perfect day.
My perfect day would begin by waking up early, eating a bowl of Wheaties, and heading out to the serene golf course. On this day, my driver would actually work properly. I would hang out with my friends in the afternoon and then have a picnic lunch somewhere under the sun. Kayak trips are always nice, and a little of my favorite music would be excellent. The day would end around a bonfire, singing songs with my best friends and watching the sunset hand-in-hand with someone who appreciates simplicity as much as I do.
What would you like to pass on to your children?
When the time comes and I am ready for children, I only ask that they be their own person. I don't want them to compare themselves to others or try to fit into the mold society throws their way. I want them to be strong, independent, and genuine people with big dreams and even bigger hearts. If they can look at themselves in the mirror each day and be happy with who they've become, that's all I can ask for.
What would you like to be remembered for?
I guess I could say I want to be remembered for my scholastic drive, or my late-night therapy sessions, or even my slightly skewed sense of humor. But the truth is that everyone has a different opinion of me, a different example of how I affected their life. And while I hope these examples are positive ones, I will not pretend to know the scope of my influence. … I would like to be remembered as the girl who always gave her all, regardless of the occasion.
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