R-JENERATION: Green Valley High School senior on the go

Melanie Robertson rolls over in bed, her sleep barely deterred by the soothing techno-beat alarm chiming from her cellphone. Through bleary eyes, she notices the time. It's 6:06 a.m. 

Many seniors in high school opt for a lighter load, with fewer classes and minimal commitment. But not Robertson.

"I wake up at 6 on good days,
6:30 on bad," she says. "A lot of the time I'm up even earlier, if I have homework to finish from the night before, which seems like it's pretty often." 

Her senior year has been her most involved in all her time at Green Valley High School, the school she presides over as student body president.

"I take seven classes during the day, starting with an early bird madrigals choir," she says. "Then (physical education), another choir class and usually a short nap in calculus. After student council in fourth period, my last real class of the day is English. Sixth period is student aide, which I spend running back and forth between the office, the student council room, the bathroom and the choir room.

"I can never go home after school right away. There's almost always something else I have to do."

Aside from choirs and student council, which include a lot of out-of-school activities and commitments, Robertson also spends time floating between other clubs, including the American Sign Language club.

When she gets home, Robertson often has little time to rest. In addition to her seven classes at school, she often has to worry about work from her eighth unofficial class of the day, an online American government class.

"I am so involved because I found love for so many things," Robertson says. "I make sure if I do something, I enjoy it, and I happen to have a lot of interest in choir, academics and student council. I firmly believe that you can never stop learning and that I should never limit myself."

Regarding people in her life that help motivate her to do as much as she does, Robertson says her role model, if she had to choose one, would be her mother.

"Raising four kids and three grandkids on her own says enough," she says. "She moved the whole family here from Canada by herself, and she's always supported us 300 percent. She has always been able to put food on our plate, a roof over our head and provide unconditional love. It seems like everything she does is with others in mind. I don't know how she does it."

Robertson has big dreams when imagining herself in the future, with the skills and work ethic she has picked up along the way.

"I hope to see myself in charge, backstage at an event that I planned single-handedly," she says. "I have a big headset on and a clipboard with items that I'm constantly checking off as they're completed. I'm running around, delegating, and making sure everyone is on task for a smooth show. After a big success, I come home, kiss my kids and my significant other and fall asleep in my giant house.

"Oh, and I'll wake up the next day at 10 a.m., because I plan on never waking up early again. Ever."