This time next year, Wyatt Murphy will be more than halfway through his freshman year at the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) in Colorado Springs, Colo. But for now, the 18-year-old senior at Poplar Bluff High School is holding on to the No. 5 position in the 367 student Class of 2018.
Murphy said he has strategically designed his schedule to include weighted classes, which have helped propel him to the top.
"I've really pushed myself to excel in my classes and to keep an A or A minus average all through high school," Murphy said. "I've noticed that there are some people who have better grades then me, but they don't have hard classes, so it kind of outweighs the difference. I'd rather have a bad grade in a hard class than a good grade in an easy class."
Murphy, who is the son of Beth and Jerrod Murphy, said taking it easy during his senior year never crossed his mind.
"I realize you've got to buckle down," he said. "A lot of people want to blow off their senior year, but the top kids in our class really are working hard right now to stay up there and prepare themselves for the future."
Murphy said college at the USAFA will likely be "pretty tough," as he plans to major in computer engineering.
"That's always subject to change once I get there, but that's something I've always wanted to do," he added.
Murphy said he is also drawn to the world of business, and may one day explore a career in commercial real estate once he's established a career in, what he considers, a more reliable field.
"If I ever get established to where I can do commercial real estate without too much risk, I may do it. But right now, I just want to focus on computer engineering. I know they're two way different things, but I like them both."
Murphy said he's planning to run track for the Mules in the spring, is a member of eight student clubs, "the president of two, vice president of the class, and I also fly."
"I'm a student pilot," he said. "So I have to balance it all with each other. Sometimes it's kind of hard, but it's worth it in the end. It's kind of fun. It's fun being busy."