Telstar High School Principal John Eliot, whose Bethel home is on the market, said, “Wouldn’t it be great if Vivi Charette was the selling agent?”

It’s not much of a stretch.

Charette, a Telstar senior, graduated June 6 as the top student in her class — and a certified real estate agent.

In October, just after turning 18, the minimum age, she signed up to take her real estate course. She passed the national and state exams on her first attempts in January and began working in early April for Oxford’s Bearfoot Realty.

Owner Monica LaVerdiere brings Charette on showings and has taught her how to list properties. Charette has learned comparative market analysis, tax maps and the Maine Listing Service.

Charette and four classmates spoke to about 30 Telstar juniors May 5 about opportunities in the Educational Learning Opportunities program, where she spent much of her senior year.

Like other panelists, Charette had completed her credits by the start of senior year and used the time this year to explore a career. Balancing academics and work, she said, is possible: “You just have to work harder for it.”

Her schedule was flexible; she started work late at times to attend school assemblies and took Winter Carnival week off. She is on the softball team so she balanced that as well.

She told the juniors that communication and interpersonal skills she developed this year, including reading social cues and offering a solid handshake, have helped her succeed.

Charette plans to continue selling real estate while attending college to earn a business degree. “Now I have all the material and certification I need,” she said.

Growing up, Charette and her three sisters moved nine times, attending showings and gaining an inside look at homes in Bethel and at the work of their real estate agent.

“I know it’s not all showing beautiful houses,” she said. “The job is a good balance between office and field work, and between structure and making your own schedule.

LaVerdiere said Charette is the youngest she has ever had in their office of 10 real estate agents.

“She is mature for her age and she’s a go-getter … As far as a real estate career you have to go get the business yourself,” LaVerdiere said. “If she continues with her career path, she’ll be very successful.”