Iana is 2017 valedictorian at GHS

“Today symbolizes the day you would have to walk the plank; would you swim or would you sink? It all depends on you.”

Words from the 2017 valedictorian of the St Vincent Girls’ High School, Iana Ferguson, as she delivered her speech at the schools’ graduation ceremony yesterday.

Iana urged her fellow graduates to always give of their best and to work for what they want in life.

“Don’t hide your talents,” she further told the graduates. Ferguson stated that many hide because they are afraid to go against the norm and they lose their ability to be innovative and independent minded.

“Instead, they become puppets, being led by persons much less competent than themselves.

“You must never subjugate yourself to your friend’s every whim and fancy.”

This, she told them, would only result in a waste of their own time and talents.

The 2016/2017 head girl encouraged the graduates to think of life as writing an exam: “You are writing in pen; once you ink it you cannot rethink it; it is already written, no white out available.”

Iana took home 14 awards at the school’s graduation ceremony, including the Prime Minister’s Award for The Student of the Year.

Her other awards were: First for Form 4 Science for 2015-2016; Sol Award for 2016-2017(Academic excellence, leadership,Good Conduct,Good attendance,Involvement in co-curricular activities); Governor General’s prize for English A (Language); Lady Antrobus Prize for English B(Literature); GHS New York Alumnae Award for Biology; GHS New York Alumnae Award for Chemistry; GHS New York Alumnae Award for Physics; Alliance Française prize for French; Gladys Hadley Prize for Geography; Clare Keizer award for Information Technology; Additional Mathematics Award; Top Prefect Award; and The Luenda Mulraine award for the student who best exemplifies initiative and resourcefulness.

Iana not only excelled academically while at the GHS, she also played the violin and piano, as well as table tennis and lawn tennis.

Throughout her sojourn at the school, Iana maintained an average of 93 per cent or above. She is the first student at the St Vincent Girls’ High School to write 19 subjects at CSEC in one sitting.

The graduation ceremony saw 137 girls graduating, with Dr Marguerite Rose delivering the feature address.(JWC)