I had always thought that the “smart kids,” the ones that will go on to be the money-minting businessmen or the well-known surgeons or the billboard-famous lawyers would be the ones who bragged the most and who put everyone else down. And until recently, those smart kids never failed to prove my theory right. Each of them fell into one of two categories: the blatantly arrogant or the compliment-seekers.

But in my sophomore year, I met Samuel Cai, who is the valedictorian of Northview High School’s Class of 2016, an impossible feat. As all of the smart kids had been thus far, I had initially expected him to either constantly brag or fish for compliments. But not once in the two years that I have known him has he ever told me his grades. Not once has he ever forced me to compliment him. Not once has he ever made me feel inferior to him. Not once has he ever slipped up and talked about how great he is. Not once has he ever stolen the spotlight from someone else and focused it on himself.

I quickly realized that he has an exceptional and kind-hearted personality; he possesses an unparalleled modesty, has a fiery passion to help others, and treats everyone with love. I have never seen him act rudely towards someone else, no matter how his day is going; he constantly has a beautiful smile on his face. Being kindhearted is so natural and effortless for him that while the rest of us struggle to keep that smile on our face, Samuel easily flashes his wide, welcoming grin to person after person.

I don’t think he quite realizes how truly brilliant he is; the only way I can capture this, through the lyrics of One Direction, is “you don’t know you’re beautiful, that’s what makes you beautiful.” He is indeed beautiful from the inside out, despite his constant denial. While he claims that there are many more people like him, I have yet to meet anyone as talented and as generous as him. After talking to Samuel for just a couple of moments, my friend immediately told me, “Samuel is one of the sweetest, most considerate individuals I’ve ever met.” He instantaneously makes everyone fall in love with him, and he seems to capture everyone under his spell.

I am no stranger to the effects of Samuel’s powerful spell. When someone asks me who my role model is, without a hint of hesitation, I say Samuel Cai. He is the person that we all can only hope to be. He is the person that we are honored to know. He is the person we both envy and love. All this being said, Samuel is not a saint, because he does have one flaw: he doesn’t appreciate himself enough.

It’s truly amazing how a person with such a huge heart, who is constantly noticing others’ strengths, can’t see how remarkable he is himself. Samuel is the paragon of humility and intellect, and we should all learn from him. Life isn’t all about grades, as most erroneously think; it is so much more than that, and Samuel seems to understand this more than anybody. Most of us are unable to surpass our desire to climb to the top, but Samuel has managed to get to the top while being completely and utterly down-to-earth and selfless.

So, whenever you see Samuel, please take a moment to appreciate him, to congratulate him, not for committing to Brown or for getting a perfect SAT score or for becoming the valedictorian, but for just being a humble and kind person. Thank him for reminding us what’s really important in a person - modesty and compassion.