Valedictorian Speech by Alexis Aseda Baffour – Class of 2026

They say it takes a whole village to raise one child. Well, in our case, it takes loving teachers, dedicated parents, a wonderful administration, and for the boarders, ONE ESSU. Let’s not forget our very own tiger, Osebo. My name is Alexis Aseda Baffour, and as the valedictorian of the Class of 2026, I would like to thank every individual within our beloved community who has nurtured us to this day. As a class, we’ve changed; we’ve become wiser; we’ve become taller… well, some of us. But more than anything, we’ve grown together. Each guardian here today is invaluable to the quest that we have been on for the last 4 years to become who we are today. Even though we have not yet reached the pinnacle of wholeness, we have been equipped by the training and love we have received from our parents and the ICS community. Romans 8:19 says that “all creation eagerly awaits the revelation of the children of God.” Class of 2026, the world is waiting for us.

But before we look ahead, we must look back, because the truth is, none of us walked this journey alone. Some people walked it long before we did, clearing paths we didn’t even know were once blocked. Our parents carried weights we never saw and fought battles they never spoke about. There were times our biggest problems were Mr Isaac’s unit tests on chemical energetics the following day. Unbeknownst to us, our parents grappled with issues much more serious than physical chemistry. There were moments we doubted ourselves, unaware that our parents had already decided that we were worth everything — every single sacrifice, every single financial commitment, and every single piece of love their hearts had to offer. Every single sacrifice, every single financial commitment, and every single piece of love their hearts had to offer. They gave us opportunities they never had, opened doors they were never allowed to walk through, and built bridges for us with their own hands so we would never have to stand where they once stood. And now, as we stand here — dressed in gowns, ready to step into the future — (dressed in gowns, ready to step into the future), we are not just standing on a stage. We are standing on years of love, of sacrifice, of prayers. As we look ahead to everything we are about to become, let us never forget this: we only see the opportunities ahead of us because we are standing on the shoulders of our parents, who chose us every single day, without fail. ,

Ambitious. Kind. Talented. Intelligent. Virtuous. Five 5 words that I truly believe describe the Class of 2026. And if you couldn’t tell, I was spelling the word “AKTIV”! Throughout my time at ICS, one core value has been drilled into me repeatedly. The importance of relationships. In the words of clinical psychologist Dr Sue Johnson, “Being the best you can be is only possible when you are deeply connected to others. Splendid isolation is for planets, not people.” In fact, I would argue that even planets have satellites orbiting around them. And just like planets have satellites, we have each other. In Year 9, year 9, I assumed that academic perfection would only be achieved by isolating myself from my classmates. God, in His wisdom, aligned Skyelar, Maame Effuah, and me in Year 10. With Skye’s assertiveness and Effuah’s persuasion, I began to socialise more with my classmates, and I will be forever grateful for the correction in my mindset. Without this correction, I wouldn’t have formed relationships with some of the most ambitious, kind, talented, intelligent, and virtuous people I’ve had the honour to call my classmates. I’ve learned to connect. I’ve learned to socialise. socialize. And most importantly, I’ve learned that the beginning of a new term just means five 5 welcome-back tests from Mr Ndego and 58,000 mechanics worksheets from Mr Kirk. I could not imagine math class without Kevin’s unique confidence and jokes. As the SRC Vice President, I could not imagine how bleak my life would be without the collective optimism we created among ourselves. The jokes about SRC’s Spirit Week trauma bonding will be forever referenced! As a class, how could we have imagined going through the stress of writing mocks without hearing one of Aiden’s humorous adventures with Christopher Columbus and Julius Caesar? Ceaser? Eyram’s business-mindedness, for one, will forever stick with me. We could be in a burning building, and she’d find a way to start selling fire extinguishers.

All in all, working hard is an integral part of student life; however, the activities embedded in the ICS curriculum taught me that it shouldn’t be done at the expense of relationships with others. Yes, working hard matters, but relationships are equally important. From our class’s Round Square community service project, I learned that a community goes beyond the individuals around you. Rather, a community is defined by is the relationship between those around you and those you uplift. From planning Spirit Week with the best SRC I had the pleasure of working with, I was immersed in the true ICS spirit: a spirit of unity, teamwork, and trust in others — so profound that it managed to convince Miss Mawuse to allow Backyard Foodstop on the ICS campus. What began as a group of individuals in our respective Year 10 year 10 classrooms has blossomed into something more profound: we became a family. A family not bound by blood, but one bound by shared experiences, unspoken understanding, and moments in the Year 13 year 13 class on the first floor that have permanently traumatised Mr Rexford.

Many of us have been asked the daunting question, “What will you do next?” or “What’s the next step?” — as if life were as predictable as Osebo. Well, I would like to break the monotony. I urge us all to reflect on this question: What kind of person would I be? Because in a world that constantly asks what we will do, we often forget to reflect on who we are becoming. I was extremely honoured honored to be named the Class of 2026’s valedictorian, a title I’d spent four years treating as my ultimate finish line. For about 20 seconds, my heart raced incessantly, and I stood on a pile of my accomplishments. It felt insurmountable — for just about 20 seconds. But there must always come a 21st second. A 21st second where the excitement dies down, and you begin to ask yourself, “What next?” A 21st-second moment when you realise that achievements fade. But the person you become along your journey stays.

Rome wasn’t built in a day. And neither were we. Every lesson, every correction, every moment of patience from our teachers became a brick in the foundation we stand on today. And if there is one thing I am certain of, it is this: very few institutions are blessed with teachers who care as deeply and as consistently as ours do. To Mr Myles, Mr Chris, and Mr Delwin, even though you left the ICS community, the lessons you imparted to us will continue to stay with us. To Miss Amoah, Mr Ndego, and every member of ICS’ teaching staff, may God richly bless you for all the late-night lessons, extra classes, and time you sacrificed on our behalf. To my parents, thank you for everything you have done for me. All the sacrifices you have made for me have not gone unnoticed, and I will continue to work hard to make those sacrifices worth it. To my little siblings, Aiden and Pearl, I love both of you very dearly, and I pray you continue to work hard for everything you want. And lastly, to Dr Yeboah and the administration of this prestigious institution, thank you for all the advice and opportunities you have laid before us. May God continue to bless you all and bless ICS.