Jessamyn Liu was never the girlish type. Growing up, she wanted weapons, not Barbies.
   “She asked for camouflage clothes （迷彩服） when she was 6,” said the longtime family friend Liu-Jen Chu.
    Small in height, the 21-year-old Chinese-American, who is a native of Richmond, Virginia, always had big military dreams.
   She has more than achieved them.
   Today, Liu will graduate as the valedictorian (代表毕业生致告别辞的学生) of her class from the US Military Academy at West Point. She will shake President Bush’s hand and accept her diploma.
   “I am really honored,” Liu said yesterday during a telephone interview from New York. “So many of my classmates were equally deserving. I am grateful.”
    Theresa Brinkerhoff, a spokeswoman for West Point, confirmed yesterday that Liu had achieved the highest academic score in the academy’s 2006 graduating class.
   “She’s something else,” Brinkerhoff said.
   Liu is no stranger to success.
   As a 2002 graduate of Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School for Government and International Studies, Liu was named All-USA College Academic Team for 2006 by USA Today. The honor is for students who excel (优秀) in academics and leadership.
Liu double-majored in American politics and American history, according to the school’s website. In addition to her studies, Liu served as the head manager for the Army cross country and track teams.