4
UWI TODAY
– SUNDAY 4 NOVEMBER, 2018
GRADUATION 2018
FAREWELL,
GRADUATES!
Saying farewell to one phase
of your life and getting ready to
embark on a new part of your
journey is the heart of what it
means to be a valedictorian.
Valedictorian is an academic title
of success for the student who
delivers the farewell statement
at a graduation ceremony, called
a valediction. The term is an
Anglicised derivation of the Latin
vale dicere
(“to say farewell”).
The role of valedictorian exists in
schools and colleges in the US,
Canada, and Central America.
However, in countries such as
Australia, New Zealand, South
Africa, Ireland, and India, you
hardly hear the term. Indeed in
France, thereare rarely ceremonial
graduation ceremonies of any
kindheld inschoolsor universities;
you simply get your final grades
and certificates, and you’re off.
In the English-speak ing
Caribbean, however, we love
ceremonies, and many people
fromkindergartentopostgraduate
level go through some form
of graduation ceremony. The
theatricality, the costumes, and
the special speeches can all make
the ceremonies meaningful and
memorable, like a rite of passage
into the real world after years of
cloistered study.
The valedictorian is often
the student with the highest
Grade Point Average among
their graduating class. But
institutions vary in how they
select valedictorians, and having
a positive attitude, a natural
curiosity about the world, a
willingness to experiment and
discover your passions, and
a drive to be challenged and
work hard, while still having
outside interests and a genuine
connection toother people, are all
important qualities that can help
not only valedictorians but all
students as they leave university
to create their own paths in the
world. To all our graduates, The
University of theWest Indies says
congratulations and best of luck
in your future endeavours.
See more graduation stories
on pages 8 to 16, and full
speeches of speakers, including
all valedictorian speeches
(downloadable as PDFs)
in our online edition.
Ariel Chitan
Science &Technology;
Food & Agriculture
October 25, 10am ceremony
Ariel Chitan,
from the Faculty of
Science and Technology, graduated
with a BSc in Physics (Major) and
Maths (Minor), receiving First Class
Honours.
“I went to St. Augustine Girls’
High School 2007-2014. I live with
my dad and my puppy, Lara, who is
the love of my life. My mother and my
grandmother are two of my biggest
influencers. They gave everything
they had to ensure that their children
became something in life. They made it
possible for me to stand where I amand
to have a choice to go after something
I love.
“Physics has always been fun. It
stood out from the rest of my subjects
because it was a place I could free my
mind and simply enjoy learning about
the universe. Mathematics on the other
hand has always kept me grounded.
When I feel at times like my mind
is wandering and I’m losing focus, I
simply just practice Mathematics, and
all is right with the world again. Of
particular focus for me is Astronomy.
I have always been in love with the
stars and the night sky and it was only
when I came to UWI that I decided
wholeheartedly to pursue it as a career.”
Ayanna Norville
Engineering; Law
October 25, 4pm ceremony
Ayanna Norville,
from the Faculty
of Law, graduated with a Bachelor of
Law, receiving First Class Honours.
“I grew up with my mother
from the age of nine years old
after my father died in a tragic car
accident. I have two older siblings
and one younger sibling. My family
is extremely close, and we maintain
consistent communicationwith each
other. I grew up on Norville’s Farm
inValencia which contributed to our
family being so close-knit.
“I attended Arima Centenary
Primary School and later attended
Bishop Anstey High School East
and then Bishop Anstey and Trinity
College East Sixth Form.
“I decided to choose lawbecause
it is a multi-disciplined field which
is integral to every aspect of society
and which is people-centered.
“There is a famous Chinese
saying that goes, ‘If you want
happiness for an hour, take a nap.
If you want happiness for a day,
go fishing. If you want happiness
for a year, inherit a fortune. If you
want happiness for a lifetime, help
somebody.’ This saying encapsulates
what brings me the most joy –
helping others.”
Zoe Brown
Social Sciences
October 26, 10am ceremony
Zoe Brown,
of the Faculty of Social
Sciences, graduated with a BSc in
Psychology, receiving First Class
Honours.
“I grew up in a farming province
in New Zealand, spending a lot of time
outside with my two older brothers
exploring and adventuring. My mother
homeschooled the three of us before I
went to a small primary school of 60
children from ages 6-10. I was later
homeschooled through my secondary
school years, again bymy hard-working,
self-trained mother as my teacher.
“Inmy early twenties, Iwas a teacher
aide in a local primary school and grew
fascinated by the way children learn,
process and interpret both academic and
social information. My mother inspired
mewhenshe said, ‘It sounds likeyouneed
to study psychology.’
“After vacationing inTrinidad tovisit
friendswhohad recently completed their
psychology degrees at the UWI, I was
drawn to coming back and studying in
Trinidad.
“Look ing back at my UWI
experience, what stands out tome is that
you never know what you are capable of
until you step out of your comfort zone
and just give life a chance to show you!”
MEET OURVALEDICTORIANS
