VALEDICTORIAN SPEECH – CLASS OF 2025
“If you had asked me a few years ago what it takes to pass exams, I’d probably have said: work hard, lock in, cut off distractions—simple. But if you ask me now, my answer would be a little different.”
Heads of School, distinguished guests, teachers, parents, students, and my fellow classmates of the graduating Class of 2025—I’d like to wish you all a good afternoon. My name is Kobena Fua Arthur, and I’m honoured to stand before you today as the valedictorian of the Class of 2025.
My journey here has been nothing short of interesting. From the day I stepped into this school, I was filled with confusion and awe. Not just because most of my classmates already knew each other, but because everything felt so new. The people, the culture, the way things were done—it was a lot to take in.
From the simplicity of Mr. Kirk’s Mechanics class to the challenge of Mr. Delwin’s Pure Math. From the mind-twisting Physics lessons with Mr. Myles, Mr. Bernard, and Mr. Francis, to Mr. Chris’s Chemistry classes, they taught us more than just chemistry. And of course, the BMCB classes with Mr. Yirenkyi… yeah, those were a different story.
Everything felt overwhelming at first. But slowly, I got used to it. It became normal. And before I knew it, the school I randomly walked into became home. I understood it—and, weirdly, it understood me.
But I wasn’t the only one figuring things out. We all were. Even the people who looked like they had it all together were just winging it half the time. We were all learning, messing up, fixing it, laughing, pretending we understood the lesson when we didn’t, and just hoping for the best. And through all that chaos, we grew.
One of my best moments here was when my best friend joined the school for a term. It was nostalgic. He brought me confidence. For the first time, I could fully be myself without thinking too hard about how I came across. I didn’t have to perform or try to fit in—it just felt natural.
To the school:
Thank you for nurturing us and shaping us into young adults ready to face the world. Thank you for always being there to lend a hand, even when you didn’t have to. You’ve done more than enough for us. Being an ICS student was genuinely fun.
To the student body
Just try. Even if school’s not for you, just finish and do your best. Don’t wait until the last second to lock in—start now. Make your parents proud, and make life easier for yourself later. Work hard—it’ll pay off.
Valedictorian Speech by KobenaFua Arthur
