Student: Balpreet Randhawa
Year in School: Senior
Plans After High School: Balpreet plans to attend Bakersfield College in order to complete his pre-requisite classes. Afterwards, he plans to attend a UC where he will major in political science with the goal of pursuing a career in law in order to open an immigration law office.
GPS Focus: GROWTH & SERVICE
What Makes Balpreet #BulldogSTRONG: In Punjabi culture, family and blood relationships are extremely important. From children to the elderly, every member of the family has unique duties and responsibilities, which can be easily observed during many occasions. Among the values of Punjabi families are the traits of hard work coupled with a deep commitment to the service of their community. For Golden Valley High School Senior Balpreet Randhawa, he has become the essence of those Punjabi familial traits as evident in the hard work he has displayed in the classroom and in his dedication to service he has demonstrated as a Bulldog. When it comes to academics, Balpreet’s impeccable work ethic has earned him a 4.5 GPA while enrolled in the most rigorous GATE, Honors, and Advanced Placement courses that GVHS has to offer. His towering GPA has allowed for him to rise 1st in Class for the Class of 2023, an honor held by just a few students. In addition to his prowess in the classroom, Balpreet took his talents to the academic competition We The People where as member of Unit 5, he and his teammates finished in 1st Place for the 22nd Congressional District and individually, he was awarded the Dr. Jack Brigham Civic Virtue Award. The success he experienced in We The People shifted his career focus from the medical field to one centered around law and politics with an interest in becoming an immigration lawyer. Balpreet’s motivation for success is driven by his desire to represent his parents and family the right way. “My parents motivate me to be successful,” humbly comments Balpreet, “As a first generation student in the United States and only child, there is a healthy love and pressure that my parents provide me in order to maintain their name at a high level. Through hard work, I want to represent them and my Punjabi culture well.”
Beyond the incredible success that he has experienced, Balpreet is also committed to serving his community in benevolent ways. As co-president of the community service based Interact Club, Balpreet has participated in numerous clothing and sock drives, multiple highway cleanups, and coin drives in order to help the community. His favorite event as part of the Interact Club was helping the Kern Autism Network by playing with children with autism in order to bring a smile to their faces and further help with some of the difficulties that parents of autistic children face. In addition to his involvement with the Interact Club, Balpreet has been a Houchin Blood Drive Ambassador where he worked hard to persuade his peers to donate blood and as a result, GVHS was the top school in the Kern High School District with the most amount of whole blood units donated. Balpreet has also been part of the RN Explorers Club which is designed to provide opportunities for students to explore careers in the medical field in order to help community members with their medical needs. Furthermore, Balpreet created the Punjabi Club during his junior year that he could inform and teach others about his culture. “I would encourage all students to become more involved in the GVHS school community,” states Balpreet, “Clubs and athletics make the high school experience that much better, but serving others helps you stay grounded and show empathy towards others. Enjoy GVHS and be good to others - you won’t be able to ever experience these years of your life ever again.” For his desire to properly honor his Punjabi culture and family through hard work, academic success, and a deep commitment to the SERVICE others, Balpreet Randhawa is #BulldogSTRONG.
What #BulldogSTRONG Means to Balpreet: "#BulldogSTRONG means that you're doing something to the best of your ability. It means that you succeed and you uplift others to succeed also. It means to be involved in your interests and communities while having fun at the same time. ”
What Teachers and Staff Think of Balpreet:
“Balpreet Randhawa is an outstanding young man and a true exemplar of what it means to be #BulldogSTRONG. As a learner he demonstrates Growth by giving his best effort to master the content in his courses and he has proven to be a hungry learner who wants to know more and learn beyond the classroom. Furthermore, Balpreet takes tremendous Pride in being a Bulldog supporting his peers in athletics, performing arts, and through his participation in countless activities and clubs. Balpreet also demonstrates a spirit for Service on campus and throughout our community as one of the leaders of Interact he has been a part of many community cleanups and activities and through his temple he has been active in the Sikh community as well. His commitment to being an active contributor in the classroom, in the community, and around our campus is why I recognized him in We the People with the Dr. Jack Brigham Civic Virtue Learning Award.” John Hansen, Government/Economics Teacher and We The People Coach, Golden Valley High School
“Balpreet is such an awesome person. Smart, well-rounded, academically successful, as well as being an all-around funny, good kid to have in class. He works at school, and knows the value of a school, but like many of our kids is #BulldogSTRONG in other areas. He works after school, and is health conscious as he knows the value of proper nutrition and physical exercise. I am excited to see what the future holds for him!” Katy Nieblas, FFA and Floral Design Teacher, Golden Valley High School
“Balpreet is an extremely hard worker who needs more recognition for his success. Currently, he has a 4.5 grade point average. While maintaining this high grade point average, he manages the Interact Club, is a member of We the People, takes a health explorer class, works a job, and helps manage a business. In addition, he helped set up the Golden Valley Blood drive. As a student in my class, he participates in the class discussions daily. He gives insightful responses, and he presents new ideas that other students have not thought about. Golden Valley is lucky to have him, and I am lucky to have such an inquisitive and insightful student in my class. I can't wait to see how he is going to change the world. I am glad that he is getting recognized for all of his hard work. Way to be #BulldogStrong!” Rebecca Bledsoe-Santaella, English Teacher, Golden Valley High School
“I am so proud of the man I am seeing Balpreet become. I have worked with him for two years and have watched as he has matured into someone who will be such a blessing to the world. I know that he has his choice of several universities to attend, but any of them will be lucky to have him. I only hope for great things for Balpreet and will be happy to tell others that, ‘I knew him when…’” Sheryl Cleveland, Mathematics Department Chair and Teacher, Golden Valley High School
“Balpreet is an all-around delightful person. As a student in AP Language and Composition last year, he brought positivity, humor, and a bit of levity to the classroom. Whether it was formal or informal discussion or writing, Balpreet always brought a unique perspective and insight to the conversation and was not afraid to share his perspective with others. I wish him all the best as he moves on to college and expect that he will continue to thrive and grow into a wonderful adult while there.” Karen Bastain, AP Language and Composition Teacher, Golden Valley High School
“Balpreet has a dry wit, a brilliant mind, and a kind heart. I enjoyed having him in two classes during his junior year. He also makes an amazing paper airplane and is almost as good as me at Wordle.” Terri Richmond, Former Social Studies Department Chair and APUSH Teacher, Golden Valley High School
“Balpreet is an honest, respectful, hard working young man. It's always nice having him in class because he always lightens up the atmosphere and gets along well with everyone. I enjoy his positive attitude and his great sense of humor.” George San Miguel, Biology and Anatomy Teacher, Golden Valley High School
“Balpreet is one of my favorites among my favorites. As a Blood Drive Ambassador, Balpreet has demonstrated remarkable organization and interpersonal skills. He is passionate about his work, and he goes above and beyond to encourage others to donate blood. His efforts have undoubtedly saved lives, and his commitment to this cause is truly admirable. In addition, Balpreet has also shown academic excellence, as he helped his team go to state in We The People. He is a brilliant young mind and has a passion for learning that is contagious. Balpreet's positivity and cheerful demeanor are unmatched. He radiates enthusiasm and is a joy to be around. He has a unique ability to inspire and bring people together.” Judiah Hopkins, Project Lead the Way/Engineering Teacher and eSports Coach, Golden Valley High School