The Real Story Behind HP’s Top Two Seniors with Valedictorian Anna Q & Salutatorian Lakshmi Vemula
05/15/25 • 31 min
Two remarkable young women are showing what’s possible when friendship and fierce determination go hand in hand. Highland Park High School’s 2025 Valedictorian Anna Q and Salutatorian Lakshmi Vemula first met at a spelling bee in fifth grade—and instead of becoming rivals, they became lifelong friends. From that moment on, they’ve supported and celebrated each other every step of the way.
In this uplifting episode of The Bubble Lounge, Anna and Lakshmi open up about what it really takes to succeed at the highest level—without losing your joy, your sanity, or your social life. They talk candidly about balancing advanced classes with Friday night football games, leadership roles like Homecoming Queen and Drum Major, and why mutual encouragement between women can make all the difference.
Their journey is a powerful reminder that success doesn’t have to be cutthroat—and that two young women can rise to the top together, lifting each other up in the process. As they head off to Yale and Brown, their advice to younger students is refreshingly grounded: work hard, take care of your mental health, and lean into the friendships that fuel you.
This episode is a celebration of academic excellence, personal growth, and the kind of female friendship that inspires us all. Tune in—and don’t forget to share it with others who could use a reminder to always surround yourself with positive people who support you!
This episode is sponsored by:
Kathy L Wall State Farm Agency Long Cove, Mother Modern Plumbing and SA Oral Surgeons
Please show your support for the show by visiting our amazing sponsors.
Two remarkable young women are showing what’s possible when friendship and fierce determination go hand in hand. Highland Park High School’s 2025 Valedictorian Anna Q and Salutatorian Lakshmi Vemula first met at a spelling bee in fifth grade—and instead of becoming rivals, they became lifelong friends. From that moment on, they’ve supported and celebrated each other every step of the way.
In this uplifting episode of The Bubble Lounge, Anna and Lakshmi open up about what it really takes to succeed at the highest level—without losing your joy, your sanity, or your social life. They talk candidly about balancing advanced classes with Friday night football games, leadership roles like Homecoming Queen and Drum Major, and why mutual encouragement between women can make all the difference.
Their journey is a powerful reminder that success doesn’t have to be cutthroat—and that two young women can rise to the top together, lifting each other up in the process. As they head off to Yale and Brown, their advice to younger students is refreshingly grounded: work hard, take care of your mental health, and lean into the friendships that fuel you.
This episode is a celebration of academic excellence, personal growth, and the kind of female friendship that inspires us all. Tune in—and don’t forget to share it with others who could use a reminder to always surround yourself with positive people who support you!
This episode is sponsored by:
Kathy L Wall State Farm Agency Long Cove, Mother Modern Plumbing and SA Oral Surgeons
Please show your support for the show by visiting our amazing sponsors.
Previous Episode
Rediscovering Yourself After the Kids Leave Home with Dana Manley & Ashley Meece
If you’ve got a senior about to graduate and the reality of an empty nest is starting to sink in, this episode is for you. I sat down with Dana Manley and Ashley Meece, two amazing neighborhood moms—both of whom recently became empty nesters—and to my surprise, they’re loving this new season of life. From spontaneous travel to rediscovering old passions, they’re proof that there’s a lot to look forward to once the kids leave home.
We talk about the emotions leading up to the transition, the surprising upsides, and how this shift can actually be the start of something wonderful. If you're feeling a little nervous about what's next, don’t miss this episode—it’s full of wisdom, laughter, and honest encouragement every mom needs to hear.
This episode is sponsored by:
Kathy L Wall State Farm Agency Long Cove, Mother Modern Plumbing and SA Oral Surgeons
Please show your support for the show by visiting our amazing sponsors.
Next Episode
From Burnout to Balance: How to Reset for Summer with Dr. Kelly Jameson, PhD
Between the final exams, sports playoffs, endless banquets, emotional goodbyes, and graduation prep, moms everywhere are completely exhausted. And just like that... summer is here.
This week on The Bubble Lounge, I’m joined by Dr. Kelly Jameson, PhD, to unpack everything we’ve just lived through—and help us move from May chaos to summer calm. We talk about what this time of year really feels like, especially for moms of graduates, and how to ease into summer with intention, not overwhelm.
If you’re still carrying the emotional weight of May or just need someone to say, “You’re doing great,” this one’s for you. Listen, take a breath, and share with a friend who needs to hear this too.
To learn more about Dr. Jameson visit www.drkellyjameson.com and be sure to follow her on Instagram @drkellyjameson
This episode is sponsored by:
Kathy L Wall State Farm Agency Long Cove, Mother Modern Plumbing and SA Oral Surgeons
Please show your support for the show by visiting our amazing sponsors.
The Bubble Lounge (Highland Park & University Park Texas) - The Real Story Behind HP’s Top Two Seniors with Valedictorian Anna Q & Salutatorian Lakshmi Vemula
Transcript
I have to tell you about our experience with SA Oral Surgeons and their amazing staff . From the moment I called to schedule , everything was just so easy . You know how some places make you jump through hoops just to set up an appointment Not there . Their team is so organized and friendly . It honestly made the whole process a breeze . They were able to work around our schedule
If you like this episode you’ll love
Episode Comments
Generate a badge
Get a badge for your website that links back to this episode
<a href="https://goodpods.com/podcasts/the-bubble-lounge-highland-park-and-university-park-texas-215896/the-real-story-behind-hps-top-two-seniors-with-valedictorian-anna-q-an-91252888"> <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/goodpods-images-bucket/badges/generic-badge-1.svg" alt="listen to the real story behind hp’s top two seniors with valedictorian anna q & salutatorian lakshmi vemula on goodpods" style="width: 225px" /> </a>
Copy