On July 5th 2022, the Castle Bruce Secondary School celebrated its 21st graduation ceremony under the theme “You are the artist of your own life, don’t hand the paintbrush to anyone else”.
Notably, sixteen year old, Liliu Lucien of Crayfish River captured the award of Valedictorian as well as numerous subject awards including HFLE, top student in Mathematics, top student in English A, excellence in Mathematics award, top student in Information Technology and special awards for Mathematics and Information Technology. Lucien also received colored chords for an 85 and above average in Biology, Mathematics, Principles of Accounts, Information Technology and Social Studies.
Upon Interview with Emonews, Lucien expressed, “I feel proud, happy and excited. Despite the challenges I was able to remain focused.” According to her, the passage of hurricane Maria in 2017 and the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic have greatly impacted her high school journey. “I have faced many challenges including Hurricane Maria in first form of my secondary education, where I lost all my supplies and barely got internet access to find online materials,” she stated. Moreover, she pointed out that in her first year of high school she was plagued with the constant expense of mobile data as she sought to keep up to date with her workload.
In addition, Lucien expressed that the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and the absence of face to face learning meant that she had to struggle with consistent headaches due to the computer’s glare. However, she sought ways to overcome this by taking long breaks, sleeping regularly and meditating before studying for long periods or completing her assignments. However, the key she notes, was her assessment of the syllabus and her attitude towards tackling the more difficult concepts prior to the easier objectives which she had fully grasped.
Lucien considers her mother her greatest rock throughout every stage of her life. “My mom, a teacher herself, has always pushed me to perform to the best of my abilities ever since my preschool years and she continues to encourage me presently,” she voiced. She also expressed gratitude to her siblings and other family members who have motivated and supported her. “Lastly, my teachers who worked with me until I understood the expected objectives and my friends who encouraged me as much as I encourage them,” she stated thankfully.
Importantly, Lucien encourages other students to take breaks and breathe. She stressed, “It is okay to take a break. Not everything will come easily and yes, it may be overwhelming but never give up. Take a break, relax, and continue your journey, no matter how hard it may be. If you know that you can truly do better, push yourself harder. The only person in the way of your success is yourself.”
Following this achievement, Lucien hopes to go to college to major in law, business and health. She identified that she has a greater passion for law as she aspires to become a lawyer in the future. “After college I plan to work so that I save enough money to go to university. As I love the foreign languages, I do plan to travel sometimes so that I can understand different cultures and the world in general a bit better,” she concluded.
With a wide array of possibilities and a deep hope for further success, Emonews wishes Lucien all the best in the near and distant future.
