So you think that a perspective employer won't value a Valedictorian over a person with a D average? If you think that, you have other problems... You get to be Valedictorian by hard work and getting the help you need if you need it. It doesn't all come natural. It's a lot of hard work, networking, people skills, communication and perciverence. All qualities that employers want. That's the difference between an A student and a D student, and it make the difference in a perspective employers eyes. Have you ever hired a person? I have, dozens of people over the years. If they are young, I look at their grades and how they got their diploma. If they are older, I look at their work history. I value the person who worked their way up from stock boy to manager more then the person who's always been manager. Because that person put in the extra work. When he didn't have the skills, he earned and learned them. They got the extra help they needed, like getting the best equipment, and took that and made something of themselves.