A Tribute for Graduation Day, 24 June 2010
From Ros Washington, Academic Director, ACT Education Solutions.
Please read:
I truly regret being unable to be with you today on this wonderful occasion –the graduation of the third group of Global Assessment Certificate (GAC) students from the Alphamax Academy.
Although I have never met you, I do feel that I know each one of you. I have visited your wonderful and caring school twice in the past and can picture where you have studied, laughed, discussed and struggled over your study! Now that I have read all of your many, many assignments and looked at your PowerPoint presentations, I know where your interests lie by the topics you chose to study. I have observed – albeit from afar - your improvement bit by bit from Level 1, through level 2, and then level 3, and I see that you have all grown into thinking and mature adults. And it is so wonderful to learn that for some of you (Vincent), the research you did for GAC assessments has helped you to clarify your future direction in life.
Now that you have worked your way through the sometimes seemingly gruelling expectations of the GAC (!!), may I assure you that now in your academic life there will be nothing you will not know how to do. You can start the next stage of your life with the confidence that the academic and social skills you have learnt in the GAC have indeed prepared you to - not only succeed well in your chosen university course,- but also succeed in your lives as capable, well adjusted, and high achieving people with the ability to go forward in an increasingly competitive world.
However it is not easy out there..in this competitive world and it is important to remember just a few things:
First NEVER lose faith in yourself and what you can do!
To quote Steve Jobs (CEO and co-founder of APPLE) in his 2005 Stanford Inaugural address:
“The only way to be truly satisfied in your work is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. So if you don’t know yet what it is you really want to do: Keep looking! Don’t settle!”
So Believe in yourself and Follow your heart!
A second thing to remember is don’t ever compromise your basic values – only ever do what you truly believe – believe right deep inside of you - is the right thing to do. Even if everyone else is doing something else, trust in yourself and the values you have been taught by your parents and your teachers.
Don’t compromise values!
And lastly, always have a positive and caring attitude to others as well as for yourself.
Remember that a true test of a person’s worth lies in how much a person gives to society rather than how much they gain.
Consider and Care for others!
And so to each of you in this class of 2010: Good luck! Congratulations! and all the very best for your future whether it be in Suriname, the USA, Holland or even Japan. Wherever you end up studying, we all know you will do exceptionally well; you have been given the foundation...now go on and make the most of yourselves! And make sure you enjoy yourselves along the way!
Of course, you must give great thanks to your wonderful teachers who have guided you through this part of your education– and in particular Milton, Sean, Hortence and Emiel all of whom have nurtured you with love and dedication.
Congratulations!
Ros Washington
Congratulations also from Gaye Pullyn, the General Manager of ACT Education Solutions and all the staff at ACT.
