These are the Y2K babies and, after a dozen years of school, the ones their peers voted to represent them at the podium for their respective graduation ceremonies.
This month, these valedictorians — the cream of the crop at School District 43 high schools — will talk about their academic journeys, the numerous friends they made along the way, the teachers they looked up to and the uncertainty they face for their future.
Certainly, there will be tears — especially from the families that raised them — and wide-eyed expressions as they embark on their next adventures. But, undoubtedly, there will be smiles too as they toss their caps in unison in the air.
Last week, The Tri-City News caught up with eight SD43 valedictorians (requests from CABE and Riverside secondary were not returned; Suwa’lkh School declined to take part). Below, a portion of their farewell speeches.
BEST: Omron Samadi
Next up: UBC, engineering major
I know what you’re thinking because I’m thinking the same thing: How in the world am I supposed to know what I want to do with my life? What you have to realize is you’re not bound to walk in the same direction; there’s always another trail to set out on. Yeah sure, maybe it’ll take you longer but either way you’ll reach your destination just the same. However, what I do ask from all of you is, whatever you do, make it your own.
CENTENNIAL: Noah Ershad-Karimi
Next up: BCIT, finance major
Now it’s time to flip to the next page and start with a great beginning — even if that means we have to face change and enter adulthood and, of course, deal with the housing prices in Vancouver later on. We all have to take the time to realize that we are the grad class of 2018 and if we can deal with the obstacles we have had to deal with this year, we have the drive to deal with the obstacles life is going to throw at us. Let’s give ourselves, our friends and family and also the teachers and administrators one last huge round of applause.
GLENEAGLE: Oliver Collett
Next up: UBC, science
As we graduate it is important for us to acknowledge and thank everyone who have supported us throughout our time at Gleneagle. Our parents and family for being a constant in this ever-changing period of our lives, our friends for being there through all the good times and all the Science 12 courses. All of our teachers who have put up with four years worth of late homework and midday naps. We should thank the admin since without them all of the amazing dances, carnivals and events we’ve shared would never have taken place. But most importantly we should congratulate ourselves.
HERITAGE WOODS: Alec Panjwani (co-valedictorian with Hannah Gauthier)
Next up: Western, business major
If we can take what Heritage Woods has to offer and run with it, imagine what we have to offer the world. We have some extreme talent within this grad class and I have no doubt each one of us will do great things in life whether through career aspirations, building loving families or other personal goals. I am extremely excited to see what each one of us brings to the table in 10 years from now when we all see each other at our reunion.
INQUIRY HUB: Kassandra Robicheau
Next up: Vancouver Island University, English major and media studies minor
We’re the ones leaving but everyone in this community is incredible and deserves to be celebrated regardless of if it’s their last chance or not. This is maybe the most and least important speech I’ve ever made: The most, because you’re all here, pretty well everyone I care most about in the world, and because I want to do all of you proud; but the least, because I know regardless of performance I’ll be congratulated. I love them all, I love you all so, so much and I’m going to miss everyone. I think I speak for all of us when I say this: Thank you.
PINETREE: Briana Chamberlin
Next up: Gap year in New Zealand
The year 2000: The year in which most of us were born. New to the world, everything seemed so wondrous and life was just there all of a sudden. We were forced to dive into life head first and accept the unknown. And now here we are, 18 later, and we find ourselves facing the same challenges we did in the year 2000 because a lifetime of events and milestones are about to unfold in front of us and we have no direction. We just show up one day, and rather than a birth certificate, we receive a diploma.
PMSS: Andrew Yun
Next up: Harvard, undecided major
Let’s live life the way we want to. Not anybody else’s/
Not the way our parents want us to. Not the way our teachers want us to/
Let’s live how we want to live/
Because that’s the only way to leave no regrets/
To continue marching forward with no glances behind our shoulders/
I want to leave you with a quote from artist and philosopher, DJ Khaled/
He said, “We gonna win more. We gonna live more. We the best”/
And Class of 2018, that’s exactly what we are going to do. You really were the best.
TERRY FOX: Mina Labani
Next up: SFU, business major
Here we stand, 18 years of life behind us, on the brink of the next chapter on our grand journey. Our lives had been rather structured and straightforward, a definite path in straight line through each successive grade level. What may have seemed like an eternity is but a fraction of the life we have yet to live. Without restraint, it would taken me far too long to reflect on the past year, let alone the past four years of high school, or even the last 13 that I’ve shared with some students here today.
jcleugh@tricitynews.com
