For Bethany Miller, being named one of three valedictorians at Iola High School represents years of hard work while balancing academics, athletics, music, activities and community involvement.
“It’s like the final culmination of everything that I worked for,” she said. “It’s like that moment of relief. I can just breathe and be like, OK, I did it.”
The achievement also carries family significance. Miller’s older brother Jon, a 2019 graduate of Iola High School, was also valedictorian. She said following that path became a goal of her own, not out of competition, but as a meaningful connection between them.
“It’s almost like paying homage to him,” she said. “It’s the thing we did. We both made it.”
Education has always been important in the Miller household. Academic success was simply part of how she was raised. By middle school, maintaining strong grades had become a source of personal motivation.
“My parents weren’t necessarily on my case about my grades, but I was like, I want to uphold this now because it’s part of who I am,” she said. “We respect education in my house, and we were never forced into going to college. We were just raised with ideals that would align with continuing your education.”
That mindset carried Miller through a packed schedule of academics, athletics and extracurricular activities. During high school, she participated in tennis, basketball and track and field, specializing in throwing events. She also danced at Miss Chelsea’s studio, swam during the summers and worked as a lifeguard at the local pool, where this summer will mark her fifth year.
AT SCHOOL, Miller was involved in band, jazz band, forensics, FCA, Student Council, Players and Thespians, SADD and National Honor Society. She is also active at Iola First Assembly of God.
She said learning to balance so many responsibilities came gradually. “I want to be busy,” Miller said. “I go stir crazy if I’m sitting at home.”
Part of that balance came from knowing her limits and staying committed to deadlines. Miller said she refused to turn in late assignments, even during especially busy weeks. “If I’m up until 11:59 that night doing it, that’s okay,” she said. “If I’m going to sign up for all of this, I have to be able to make it on time.”
Despite her academic accomplishments, Miller laughed when asked about study habits and routines.
“Honestly, I don’t have any,” she said jokingly before adding that success came from understanding time management and personal responsibility. “You can procrastinate, but you can’t procrastinate too much,” she said. “You have to know your balance.”
Band became one of the defining experiences of her high school career. From eighth grade on, many of her elective hours were devoted to band, jazz band and choir. She said the commitment taught her how to stay focused and push through challenges. She also credits the school’s science department with shaping her high school experience.
Outside the classroom, forensics became another major part of Miller’s high school years. She qualified for state competition all four years, competing in impromptu speaking as a freshman, informative speaking as a sophomore and junior, and both informative speaking and humorous solo acting as a senior.
Her humorous solo acting piece this year, “Property of the Rebel Librarian,” focuses on censorship and banned books. Miller said the performance pushed her outside her comfort zone because she had always considered herself more of a speaker than an actor.
MILLER BELIEVES one of the biggest lessons high school taught her was learning how to handle difficult or uncomfortable situations without letting small setbacks become overwhelming.
