| There was standing room only at the Rodney MacArthur Rey Auditorium, where a record attendance of several hundred persons witnessed the graduation of 139 (out of 2011 Year Five) students from the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School on Wednesday, October 19. Some 60 of the graduates are continuing their education in Sixth Form, while the majority will seek employment in the dwindling job market. |
Those who were not among the graduates, unfortunately, did not meet the criteria for graduation.
The 22nd Year Five Graduation Ceremony chaired by Sgt. Chrispen Gumbs had as its theme: “The Purpose of Life is a Life of Purpose.” The Principal, Mrs. Ingrid Lake, told the graduating students that they had completed a milestone in their life. “Over the last five years you have acquired knowledge, skills and experiences that no one can take from you,” she said.
The Principal urged the graduates to engage in activities that would make Anguilla a better place. “Be agents of change especially among persons in your age group,” she continued. “In spite of the political, economic and social gloom,remain focused cognisant of the fact that God has promised to be always with us, and will give us the strength to endure.
“On behalf of all your teachers, let me commend you for your efforts and cooperation, and thank you for the contributions that you have made. You have learned from us and we have learned from you…We wish you all the best and trust that you will be able to shine like stars within your various communities.”
Chief Education Officer, Mrs. Rhonda Connor, congratulated the class of 2011, particularly the graduates, and wished them every success.
The keynote address was delivered by former student, Ivan Connor, who graduated Cum Laude from the University of the Virgin Islands in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration (Finance Concentration) and an Associate of Arts Degree in Management.
Mr. Connor, who serves as Information Technology and Information Risk Management Specialist at KPMG, told the graduates that their learning did not stop at their graduation. “I encourage you to support the Anguilla Community College, go off to University and Trade School to equip yourself…and return home with skills and contacts to make Anguilla a globally-recognised beacon of prosperity and responsible development,” he advised them.
“I challenge us, as a nation, to give them [the graduating students] the platform to champion the change that lies before us,” Mr. Connor appealed to all persons in the community. “Work hand in hand with them to build a nation that embraces excellence. Allow them to show the world that the purpose of life is a life of purpose.”
The Valedictory Speech was delivered by Senegal Carty who attained 11 ones in the recent CXC examinations. “It is my honour and privilege to attempt to explain to this veritable sea of people what it was like five years ago for all of us seated here to meet everyone else,” she told the dense crowd. “I have to explain what it was like to find old friends and slowly step closer and closer to new ones until our lives became so intertwined that we have no choice but to sit here as one body – the class of 2011 of the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School.”
Addressing her fellow graduates directly, Miss Carty continued: “Classmates, daunting tasks lie before us. We are charged with the task of providing redress for the many problems within society, and with becoming inspirations for those younger than us. In a few years, we will be responsible for the protection of the next generation. “In order to succeed when we pass this point, we will need to continue to grow in resourcefulness, determination and integrity. New skills will have to be learned as we move into unfamiliar situations and places, and our networks will and expand to, include co-workers, bosses and others who are currently strangers, all of whom we will need to learn to interact with appropriately. Some of our friendships will have to become long-distance. “Of course, it is true that social networks such as Facebook, through which everyone can continue to stay in touch, can be an important tool in the maintenance of our bonds. However, classmates, we need to keep their shortcomings in mind. For example, our loved ones are not the only people who have access to our online profiles. It is imperative that we make careful judgments about exactly how much of ourselves we want to reveal on these sites. “We also need to be careful about who we decide to call ‘friends’, keeping in mind that what you learn about a person through social networking sites is nothing more than the way they want be seen… “As we continue up these sometimes treacherous steps, we will have more of a say in what goes on in our own lives, assuming more responsibility for ourselves and our work. Already some of us have experienced a spike in autonomy levels as we start jobs, seek jobs or embark on the road to higher education. “The world we are stepping into is far from cozy. Resources of all kinds are getting scarcer and scarcer. Social unrest is getting closer everyday to becoming the norm. It is a world that will test us but, thankfully, we have been and are being prepared to deal with the roses and the thorns that will surely affront and confront us, by using those tools called virtues. We have been inculcated with them through the patient diligence of those who care for us. Even now they remain always ready to lend their wisdom, support and affection.” The Valedictorian expressed thanks to all teachers whom she said the class of 2011 would forever be indebted to. “We all owe collective gratitude…to our Year Head, Miss Michelle Queeley, who worked so hard over three years to make us see ourselves as bundles of potentiality,” Miss Carty stated. “We must thank her too, along with our form tutors for making this graduation season the finest ever. To our Principal, Mrs. Ingrid Lake, we must give special thanks for doing a spectacular job of keeping all of us on the straight and narrow during our time at school.” |
