For Valedictorian Wesley Gladin, Salutatorian Lynsey Ellis and class president Jazmin Martinez there is no down time, no time to kick back and enjoy their educational success. For each of them, they are merely beginning and they refuse to take their eyes off of their goals.

Next fall Gladin will attend the University of Florida with his sights set on business administration and pre-medicine.

Already thinking beyond his upcoming undergraduate years, he already has plans to attend a medical school up north.

Gladin decided on a goal of becoming a doctor after attending a National Youth Leadership Forum on medicine. "Going into medicine is really what I want to do," he said.

There is no mention of a lazy summer kicking back as he will work as a waiter in a Brandon area restaurant. He also volunteers at area schools.

Gladin may want to stay in touch with Salutatorian Lynsey Ellis. Ellis, who works for Blue Cross/Blue Shield is one of the youngest licensed insurance agents in the state. That distinction was a result of her drive, her motivation. When she began working for the insurance company she became frustrated that she was not able to provide information to clients, even though she knew the answers they sought. Only licensed agents are able to provide information. As such, showing the drive that has already made her a success, she earned her license.

While she enjoys her job, she does not necessarily have her sights set on a career in the insurance industry. Ellis will major in telecommunications at the University of Florida and hopes to one day host her own television show.

She is familiar with that industry as well - she has been modeling and acting since the eighth grade.

"I’m going to miss things about high school," Ellis said. "But I’m just so looking forward to starting my life. Being in college I’ll be able to start working towards my goals."

In addition to working at Blue Cross, Ellis will also volunteer at a summer camp for special needs children over the summer.

Class president Jazmin Martinez is another future doctor that may want to stay in touch with her insurance-expert classmate.

Martinez has been involved in the medical program at Riverview High for the past three years. She has her sights set on becoming a pediatrician and will attend the University of South Florida for pre-med studies.

Martinez also mentioned research into diseases such as diabetes. "I hope to find some cures for things out there."

Given her drive to succeed and her levelheaded sight on her goals, there is little doubt that she is capable of doing just that.

"I want to be a doctor," Martinez said. "If I don’t see myself in that white jacket my life won’t be complete."

Martinez will spend her summer working at not one but two jobs. The first is at a communications company that provides paging services to doctors. The second is at an area restaurant. "I’m working for college because I think that is something that is mandatory for me," she said.

All three seniors have spent their four high school years at Riverview. All three have defined themselves beyond academics through volunteer work in the community. All three realize and are excited about the fact that life will quickly change for them.

"We’ve come back [to school] every year to the same routine," said Martinez. "But now, instead of thinking about what the next semester is going to be we’ll have to start thinking about what our life is going to be."

For Gladin, Ellis, and Martinez, that process has already begun, they are already defining their lives through their achievements.

"A lot of parents expect their kids to do this or that," said Ellis. "If you give your child motivation, we can pick for ourselves what we want to do. My parents have always helped me."