NEWARK, NJ — Malcolm X Shabazz High School's 2017 valedictorian has some words of wisdom for the Newark community: "It's impossible to be a resilient and compassionate person without knowing how to embrace humanity."

Those are the words of Kim Boerrigter, who recently graduated at the top of her class and will attend Harvard University on a full scholarship this September to get cracking on her dream of becoming a "scientist who is a woman of color." See related article: Newark Teen Earns Harvard Scholarship Looking for more words of inspiration from the future forensic pathologist?

Boerrigter, who immigrated to the U.S. from Germany with her family in 2003, told school administrators that her achievements have a simple yet important starting point… she's inspired to "be the change" that she wants to see. "I strive to learn new things not only because I love learning, but because it is impossible to be a resilient and compassionate person without knowing how to embrace humanity," Boerrigter said. "By advancing my understanding of life on the microscale, I am better equipped to understand life on the macroscale."

This is the mindset that helped the ambitious teen compile the following list of achievements during her time in high school:

Captain of the Aquatic Biogeochemistry Team

Lead Researcher of the Pocono Environmental Education Center

Lead Presenter at the American Geophysical Union Conference.

Cooperman College Scholar at The College of New Jersey

Volunteer at Saint James Church in Newark

Varsity Captain of Track and Field and Cross Country

Counselor at Malcolm X Shabazz Girls' Sports Camp

Conducted a research project that was accepted into the American Geophysical Union's fall 2016 Conference While the right mindset is imperative to success, it also doesn't hurt to be a hard worker. According to Essex County officials, Boerrigter has never been late or missed a school day since starting school in kindergarten.

Listen to Boerrigter speak about her love for science and her experience as a Newark resident below.