The No. 3 spot in Poplar Bluff High School's Class of 2019 is held by Carlton McDonald-Jordan. The 17-year-old guard for the varsity Mules basketball team said he works hard day-in and day-out because he plans to succeed in life after high school.
"Right now, I just take initiative and put it on my own shoulders just to get done," McDonald-Jordan said. "I'll do whatever it is I've got to do to get into college and get a good job."
The son of Carl Jordan and Erica McDonald, McDonald-Jordan said he is currently undecided when it comes to which college he will attend, although there are a few he has in mind. If the high school junior ends up at his dream school, McDonald-Jordan will be wearing Duke blue and white at a prestigious university in Durham, N.C.
"If I could go anywhere, I'd choose Duke University," he said. "I've liked them for a long time (for) their athletics program and they have a big name. Everybody knows Duke."
McDonald-Jordan said his future plans include a career as a sports medicine physician and added that he plans to choose the major which will best prepare him for medical school.
Aside from playing basketball, McDonald-Jordan is also an active member of Health Occupations Services of America, BETA Club and Student Council.
McDonald-Jordan said next year's class schedule will be intentionally challenging, but that "it comes with the territory."
"It's going to be difficult, but just in getting me ready for college, I think it will really help me out," he said.
When looking toward his senior year, homework and studying are merely part of what McDonald-Jordan hopes is a memorable experience.
"It's the last year," he said. "I just want to enjoy it. Take my time with it because it will be up soon and I'll be off to college. So I just want to enjoy every second and have a lot of fun with it."