Darshpreet Virk, a seventh grader at Totem Middle School, embodies all the traits that the Scholar of the Month should have.

Nominated by Totem Middle School Principal Shana Watkins, she said Darshpreet always shows up to school with a good attitude, ready to learn.

Watkins said Darshpreet is “always open-minded to welcome other thoughts and ideas even if those are different from her own.”

Darshpreet said this is important so you don’t get full of yourself.

“I learned that different people think different ways and that there’s millions of personalities in this world,” she said. “There’s always something you learn from each one of them.”

Darshpreet said she is honored to be the Scholar of the Month for her school. To her, being focused and eager to learn in the classroom is all about attitude and action.

“It’s like actually listening and putting the work into and work ethic into something, and actually taking the time to do something,” she said.

Darshpreet likes learning because it gives her something to look forward to.

“You actually have a place in this world if you learn and become something.”

When she grows up she wants to be a pediatrician or a knee specialist, and she loves reading books.

Her favorite subject in school is English, and her favorite teacher happens to be her English teacher, Ms. Major.

“She’s always there for me and she always has time whenever I ask her a question,” she said.

Her principal also said that Darshpreet is very empathetic to her classmates and likes helping them when they need it.

“I like doing that because it gives everybody a chance to be who they really are,” Darshpreet said. “Everyone has their own unique way to do something.”

To be Scholar of the Month, students need to have perfect attendance during the academic year, meet or exceed a 3.0 GPA or equivalent at the elementary level, and demonstrate positive and productive behaviors in school with no disciplinary action.