NATCHEZ — Holly Richardson isn’t quite sure what life is like outside the halls of Adams County Christian School.

But the senior valedictorian is eager to find out.

“I’ve been going here since preschool, and I’ve met a lot of great people and learned everything I can to go out into the world and be independent,” Richardson said. “I’m going to miss everyone, but I think I’m ready to be done with high school.”

Richardson found out she was the top student in her class last week after her last high school exam, but said the announcement didn’t come as a huge surprise.

“I kind of knew it was either me or Mac Lindsey, but we never really talked about which one of us would get it,” she said. “I haven’t talked to him since I got it, but I don’t think he’s mad at me.

“It feels pretty good.”

A Natchez native, Richardson said she’s always been a studious person — only receiving two Bs her entire high-school career.

“I got one in American history and one in calculus because they’re just hard classes,” Richardson said. “I’m not upset about those though, I tried my best in the classes.”

In her time at ACCS, Richardson has been involved with National Honor Society, BETA Club, Key Club and the Fellowship of Christian Students.

Richardson said the only thing she regrets about her time at ACCS was not being more involved with some of those clubs.

“I wish I had been more involved in Key Club because I only did it in 12th grade,” she said. “I really enjoyed a lot of the activities they did and how they helped out so many people in the community.”

All that’s left now, Richardson said, is to walk across the stage and receive her diploma — after a brief speech to her fellow graduates.

“I’m a little nervous because I have to make the big speech,” she said. “I’m just going to hope for the best when I get up there.”

In her speech, Richardson said she would urge her classmates to pursue great things as they begin the next phase of their lives.

“I think I’m going to talk about how talented our class is and how we can all do a lot of different things because we’re all so creative,” Richardson said. “I haven’t finished writing it, though.”

She is the daughter of Vivian Richardson.

ACCS’s graduation ceremony will be at 7:30 p.m. tonight at First Baptist Church in Natchez.