NC high school senior achieves perfect ACT score, inspires others with journey to medical dream

CARY, N.C. (WNCN) — Sophie Laurenceau-Breton now has a multitude of options where she can practice her hobby.

“I get a notification on my laptop, and I have such a horrible migraine, and I’m not paying attention to my laptop,” she said about a day when she received good news.   

A rising senior at Cary High School, Laurenceau-Breton recalls her mom being in her room when she opened the email about her ACT score.

“Oh, ‘I got a 36,’ and I said that out loud, and my mom did a double-take. She was like ‘Wait, what’?” she said.   

“I thought I heard wrong, I did, and I looked over at her screen, and sure enough, I saw the 36, and as a former educator. I’ve never heard anyone getting a 36 ever,” said Sophie’s mom, Astrid Laurenceau.   

ACT says Sophie is now one-quarter of 1 percent of students who take the ACT and earn a top score. In 2024, only 3,041 out of 1.37 million students who took the ACT earned a top composite score of 36.

“I was thrilled; it felt like a lot of doors were open for me,” said Sophie.   

And speaking of many doors, top schools like Harvard and Yale, to name a few, are sending her letters to persuade her to attend their institution. But she already has a few on her list.

“I am looking at Duke, UNC, Brown, Tufts, but it depends on where I get accepted and, of course, the most scholarships,” said Sophie.      

Sophie admits that her most challenging subject is social science, due to the need to memorize specific dates and information, but math is her easiest subject. And when this scholar isn’t busy studying, she has taken up a new hobby.

“I like to crochet. I’m in the crochet club at my school, and it’s fun,” she said.    

As Sophie and her parents prepare for senior year, her mom hopes others will see her story and dream big.

“Anything is possible with hard work, dedication, and perseverance. That’s the one thing throughout the years I tried to instill in Sophie is to persevere through anything,” said Astrid Laurenceau.   

And despite fighting some challenges along the way.

“I have a lot of medical issues like migraines and chronic pains,” said Sophie.   

This senior isn’t letting that stop her from excellence and achieving her wildest dreams.

“I am going to be a doctor. I am considering being an OBGYN or endocrinologist,” she said.