ST. THOMAS - As she stood behind the speaker podium on Thursday,valedictorian Nicole Joseph dug into more than a decade of memoriesshe had made with her classmates from Ss. Peter and Paul CatholicSchool.
Ebone Adams, Joseph said, was always 6 inches taller than she -even when the two met in kindergarten. Alfredo Alejo, now bound forcollege in Connecticut, was quite the classroom entertainer andteacher irritant, Joseph recalled. Joseph said she and Bianca Martinhave weathered their ups and downs over the years, but like all 14members of the school's Class of 2011, she expects they will remainclose through the next decade and beyond.
"Nothing will ever change so much to the point that we are notall still friends," Joseph said to the crowd of family members,friends and parishioners gathered at UVI Sports and Fitness Center.
At the heart of this year's ceremony was the strong bond betweenthe members of the small class, all of whom are going on to highereducation or into the armed services. While two of the graduates -twin brothers Connor and Dillen Ledee - were bona fide relatives,the rest of classmates simply know one another so well they seemlike family. After they had thanked God, their families and theirteachers in their salutatorian speeches, Lia Fabian and Karl StarnsIV offered a few jokes at their classmates' expense.
"You have to be some of the most annoying people I have evermet," Fabian said, shooting a smirk back toward the twins.
During his turn, Starns fondly recalled stealing Fabian's pencilcase, hiding its coveted contents and reveling in her loss.
The class's three top students revealed they have similar recipesfor success.
Joseph, who will be attending Loyola University, said success isthe result of working hard, staying focused and making time for lotsof prayer.
Fabian cited hard work and determination, as did Starns, who saidyou should listen to your parents, teachers and God.
"If you follow the one above you," Starns said, "you can't gowrong."
Joseph said she studies in a quiet place, while Starns, who willbe attending the University of Louisiana at Monroe, said he alwayspays attention in class so he does not have to study much outsidethe classroom.
Fabian, who is headed to Villanova University in Pennsylvania,said that if she comes across something she does not understandwhile she is studying, she writes it down and then asks a teacherfor help.
When the three top students are researching projects, they allstart at the same place: the Internet, they said.
To get to her top academic spot Thursday, Joseph said she had toovercome her tendency to get distracted, as well as the agitation offour little brothers, who she said sometimes tested her nerves.
Starns said his hardest challenge was adjusting to Virgin Islandslife when he moved here at age 9.
Fabian said she experienced a similar transition when she movedhere in 2005.
For underclassmen whose graduation moment has yet to come, thetop three students offered the following advice:
- "Listen to your teachers," Joseph said, "because they actuallyknow what they're talking about."
- "You need to get on top of your school work," Starnsrecommended, "and listen to what your parents give you and apply itto your life."
- "Never be discouraged, no matter what people tell you," Fabiansaid. "If they tell you you can't succeed, you should only tryharder."
In the auditorium on Thursday, the Class of 2011's milestone waswitnessed by loved ones who praised the small class's collectivetalents, intelligence and drive.
Roosevelt Evans Jr. beamed after his granddaughter, LaquannRoberts, presented him and other family members with a flowerbouquet of thanks.
"I felt like I did 17 years ago when I first saw her - very, veryhappy," Evans said.
Anneta Heyliger looked up at the stage toward her daughter,Yasmin, who will be attending Johnson & Wales University in thefall. While undoubtedly proud of her daughter, Anneta Heyliger saidher joy extended to the entire student "family."
"I am so happy for all of them; I know most of these kids likethey're my own," Anneta Heyliger said. "I'm so proud of each andevery one."
- Contact reporter Karen Hollish at 774-8772 ext. 304 or emailkhollish@dailynews.vi.
Class of 2011
Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic School
Class of 2011
Valedictorian: Nicole Joseph
Salutatorians: Lia Fabian; Karl Starns IV
Number of graduates: 14
Number going to four-year college: 11
Number going to technical school: 1
Number joining the U.S. Coast Guard: 2
Number of scholarships awarded: 10
Amount of scholarships awarded: $134,000
Colleges and technical school:
Johnson & Wales University
University of Central Florida
Barry University
Villanova University
Bowie State University
University of Louisiana at Monroe
Loyola University
University of the Virgin Islands
Empire School of Cosmetology
No comments:
Post a Comment