One High School Seniors Pathway to a 482 GPA

Ryan Morrall never struggled with math – obviously, given his 4.82 grade-point average, tops among Rancho Cucamonga High School seniors. Chemistry wasn’t much of a problem either. “I found fun in it,” he says. “If you like learning, it becomes easy.” And even though English gave him some trouble, “I came out on top.” Yes he has, but for a 17-year-old with so much going for him, Ryan knows he has many more mountains to climb – and can’t wait to get started. He has been conditionally accepted into West Point, and is eyeing a career in life sciences or engineering – to help others and make this planet a better place. It sounds like a perfect story, and in many ways it is. A flawless grade-point average. The chance to attend one of the top colleges in the world. An altruistic world view. But Ryan is also keenly aware of the struggles that families endure, and that’s part of what has motivated him. He talks openly of a history of suicide on his father’s side of the family, the “tragedy and hurt” that comes with that, and the need, ultimately, to be responsible for your own life. It’s a perspective that has earned Ryan glowing reviews from those who know him. “His parents gave him the foundation, but he’s the one who is accountable for his own actions,” said Brigitte Hughes, Ryan’s high school counselor. Ryan himself credits his parents for establishing the framework for his success. His father is a retired California Highway Patrol sergeant. His mother is a Spanish teacher at Rancho Cucamonga High and the school’s AVID coordinator. “My parents are really involved. The morals and lessons my dad taught me – about being organized and working hard – kept me on track,” Ryan says. “They gave me a plan when I was young, and I made it my own. Ultimately, it’s on me to make it work.” A member of the school’s basketball team for three years and water polo team for one, Ryan has focused his senior year on academics, participating in Associated Student Body (ASB) and tutoring other students. He’s finishing up the final details for full acceptance to the U.S. Military Academy, and fully intends to join his sister – a Rancho Cucamonga alum currently in her first year at West Point – this upcoming fall. “I want my presence on this Earth to make a difference,” he says.