| valedictorian |
CCHS 2023 valedictorian
Matthew Rakestraw combines love of learning with extracurricular passions
by Akilah C . Clarke
“ There is divine beauty in learning ... To learn means to accept the postulate that life did not begin at my birth . Others have been here before me , and I walk in their footsteps ... I am the sum total of their experiences , their quests .” — Elie Wiesel
Eighteen-year-old Matthew Scot Rakestraw is a living , breathing example of that famous quote by world-renowned author Elie Wiesel . The 2023 Colquitt County High School valedictorian can pinpoint specific periods in his childhood when his love of learning began to develop and was encouraged to grow .
He recalls being a young boy , falling asleep in his mother ’ s arms while she studied for her master ’ s degree . He has memories of sitting outside on a blanket with his grandmother , going over spelling lessons . His educational passion was further sparked in the fourth grade , when he was transferred from Funston Elementary to the Gifted Education with Academic Rigor , or G . E . A . R ., Center .
“ It was a completely life-changing experience for me . I began to actually love learning and being around people who also had similar interests . I developed an intense love for history and later , writing ,” Rakestraw said . “ I met so many different people who are still in the classes that I ’ m taking [ and are ] still my friends , too .”
Bearing the title of valedictorian is a significant honor to the Georgia Tech-bound student , who plans to major in international affairs and minor in political science . Rakestraw attributed his success to standards set by his family , who have backgrounds in law enforcement , agriculture and the military .
20 MoultrieScene JULY 2023
“ Just having that support from them , seeing their examples and experiences , that was an important thing for me ,” he said .
Rakestraw went on to explain how the G . E . A . R . Center changed him , instilling a passion for learning about everything he could get his hands on . He also credits a past G . E . A . R . Center teacher who ignited a spark of incessant inquisitiveness in him – one that has yet to be extinguished .
Matthew Rakestraw with his mother , Tara Rakestraw , pose at the Carter Presidential Library June 24 , 2022 .