A Tribute for Graduation Day-Kaye Dunn ACT Education Solutions Ltd.

A Tribute for Graduation Day, 29th June 2015

From Kaye Dunn Senior Academic Manager (Global) ACT Education Solutions, Ltd.

I would dearly love to be with you today on this wonderful occasion –your graduation from the Global Assessment Certificate (GAC)! This year’s cohort has worked hard with their teachers to develop the skills that will help them to succeed in their future studies, career and life.

Michelle Chow GAC Graduate and Valedictorian

Although I have never met you, I do feel that I know each of you very well and have in many ways been on the GAC journey with you. I have observed your academic and personal development from afar throughout this academic year. I have read all of the assessments that come into our shared Dropbox folder and watched with great pleasure your role plays, oral presentations and seminars. Now I do have to admit one guilty pleasure – I always look forward to moderating assessments from AlphaMax Academy as they always demonstrate confidence and a willingness to examine complex and difficult issues. This can only come from a supportive educational environment that encourages all those involved to push the envelope. Through your written and spoken work I have been privileged to be participant – in a small way – in preparing you for a life in a new and changing world. I am confident that you will all make great contributions in the coming years. It has also been a great pleasure to continue learning about Suriname and I look forward to visiting in person!

I would also like to applaud you because now you are part of a large global family of high-achievers who can proudly claim, “I survived the GAC!” and as you know from experience, this is a well-earned achievement and not for the faint at heart! I am sure that there were times you thought you would never get to this day! You have worked your way through the sometimes seemingly endless expectations of the GAC and are now ready for the next stage of your life. You can be sure that all the academic and social skills that you have developed over the course of this academic year in the GAC have prepared you for a successful future in whatever course you choose to follow. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said; “The things taught in schools and colleges are not an education, but the means of education.” It is my hope that GAC has provided you with the building blocks that will foster your ongoing growth and development as you move through life’s journey.

As you embark on this new journey I would ask that you keep three things in your mind and heart:

First of all, NEVER lose faith in yourself and what you can do. Follow your heart and your intuition. Let them lead you towards to person you really want to become and help you achieve everything you really want to achieve. Believe in yourself and follow your heart! As Steve Jobs once said: Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice, heart, and intuition

Secondly, don’t ever compromise your basic values – do only what you truly believe 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, your community, your school and your teachers. Define your values – commit to your values. As Time Cook, CEO of Apple said: “Your values matter. They are your North Star. You don’t have to choose between doing good and doing well. It’s a false choice, today more than ever. Your challenge is to find work that pays the rent, puts food on the table, and lets you do what is right and good and just. Find your North Star. Let it guide you in life and work and in your life’s work.”


And finally please remember to dream! After all, as Mark Twain said, “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

And so to each of you in this graduating class of 2015 – Congratulations and Good Luck!

And many congratulations to your wonderful teachers who have guided and nurtured you through this stage of your education with a great deal of care and dedication.

Congratulations and best wishes to all of you!


From Kaye Dunn, Senior Academic Manager(Global) on behalf of Ros Washington, the Academic Director and all the staff of ACT Education Solutions Ltd.