“It’s okay to be different because imperfections are the perfections of life,” says CityLab High School, senior Juston P.
For him, that belief is more than a quote. It is how he learned to navigate a world that has not always been built with him in mind.
In a school defined by individuality and innovation, Juston is leaving a legacy rooted in both.
“I hope the legacy I left on this school, and district is that you can be on the spectrum and do what I did or even more,” Juston said.
That legacy is already taking shape.
Juston is CityLab High School’s first valedictorian with autism spectrum disorder, earning top honors on the environmental sustainability pathway. This fall, he will attend the University of Texas at Austin to study biochemistry, with plans to become an anesthesiologist.
His journey to this moment began early.
Diagnosed around the age of three after his mother, Tabitha, an assistant principal at Kathlyn Joy Gilliam Collegiate Academy, noticed he was regressing after reaching major developmental milestones. Juston also grew up navigating challenges with speech, social cues, and overstimulation in loud environments.
After tests were done and therapists were met, they learned Juston has Aspergers.
Still, what others may have seen as limitations, Juston learned to reframe.
“They are not mental challenges, they are special gifts,” Juston said. “You can use these special gifts to help you out on this journey. They don’t have to hinder you but rather help you grow.”
That mindset became his foundation.
Structure, routine, and precision became tools for success. Juston used his attention to detail to stay organized, check in with teachers, and remain ahead academically. After attending Harry Stone Montessori Academy, where his mother says he thrived, his confidence continued to grow.
“By seventh grade, I saw him taking flight with his social skills, confidence, and he actually started to believe what people were telling him about his intelligence,” Tabitha said.
At CityLab, Juston found an environment that allowed him to breathe. The open floor plan and smaller campus setting provided a sense of calm and comfort.
“This school is small, but for me that’s the beauty of it,” he said. “My friends and teachers really made my high school experience.”
By his sophomore year, Juston had already begun mapping out his future. He chose the environmental sustainability pathway with a clear goal of becoming an anesthesiologist.
“Without horticulture or plant sciences, we wouldn’t have a good medical field or research,” Juston said.
As he continued his studies, Juston began to understand that plants are the foundation of medicine, while biochemistry explains how those medicines interact within the body. For someone who thrives on order and precision, the connection made sense and became part of his long-term goal of treating patients with care and accuracy.
That learning came to life through his experience of being a part of the first-ever fall cohort of Big Tex Urban Farms, a five-month program developed in partnership with Dallas ISD. During the 2025 State Fair of Texas, Juston worked alongside his peers gaining hands-on experience in urban agriculture.
Through the program, he participated in greenhouse training, hydroponic system builds, crop management, and plant maintenance. He also explored agricultural education through tours of the State Fair livestock barns and Texas Discovery Gardens, while supporting field trips and public engagement opportunities.
“I loved working on Big Tex Urban Farms,” Juston said. “It was peaceful and relaxing, and that’s especially good for someone like me with sensory issues.”
As he prepares for his next chapter, Juston’s story reflects more than academic success. It is a story of growth, perspective, and redefining what is possible.
Juston is excited, but also a little nervous to become a Longhorn with Aspergers. He says the new environment will be a lot for him but the opportunity to experience new things and people is what college is all about.
