ESHS Valedictorian: 'It felt like my senior year had been totally stripped away’
Penn, along with 126 other students, graduated from the school in the first drive-in graduation ceremony at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) grounds in Paraquita Bay on Thursday, August 6, 2020.
She pointed to the 2017 August floods and subsequent hurricanes Irma and Maria and now the global pandemic.
“As I reflected on our almost unrealistic, unimaginable, and unexpected high school experiences, my mind found itself riding the loops and turns of a roller-coaster. My dreams of 12th grade with my peers, planning activities, creating the best year ever slowly faded away and to be honest it felt for months like my senior year had been totally stripped away,” she said.
“But, then I remembered our perseverance, I remembered our endurance, and my once excited spirit had been restored. The Class of 2020 endured …we did it,” she stated.
Penn is the daughter of Stephanie Russ-Penn and Broderick Penn and has been a high achiever throughout her years at ESHS. She was also the top performer for Grade 9 at ESHS.
Graduates did well
Addressing the ceremony, Principal Vanessa K. Garraway commended the students for doing well despite all odds.
“This afternoon, I am pleased to share that of the 127 graduates, there are 72 honour students and 13 high honour students, together representing 59 per cent of the class. Twenty of our 12th-grade students met the requirements to take college English and Mathematics in their final year, earning them college credits. For the very first time this school year, 10 of our students were early admittance students at the HLSCC. There they were full-time students completing at least 12 credits each semester while still completing their graduation requirements at ESHS and reaping success in both ventures,” she pointed out.
She said the students have proven to be “a resilient and determined set of people as you put in the necessary work through the tough times and have succeeded.”
Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1), along with Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture, Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), offered congratulatory remarks to the students virtually.
“You have a lot to be proud of, and everyone is proud of you. Many obstacles came in your way in the last few years, but you overcame them and today victory is yours,” the Premier said.
Dr Wheatley said: “Class of 2020 go forth and blaze your trail and know that we are extremely proud of you.”
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