VALEDICTORIAN SPEECH – CLASS OF 2025

It is with profound gratitude and great honour that I stand before you on this momentous day — a day that marks not only a defining chapter for us, the graduating class of 2025, but also a historic celebration for the International Community School as we mark its 25th anniversary.

Twenty-five years ago, a vision was born, a vision to nurture minds, shape futures, and raise leaders for our country and the world. Today, as we celebrate a quarter century of academic excellence, innovation, and resilience, we are not only witnesses to that vision,  we are living proof of its power.

For me, this moment holds even deeper meaning. I’ve walked these halls for as long as I can remember. From my very first day in preschool to standing here before you today, I’ve grown up within these walls. ICS has taught me not only how to excel, but how to lead with purpose, live with integrity, and serve with heart.

Standing here, I am overwhelmed — not just by the weight of this moment, but by a deep and sincere sense of gratitude. First and always, I give thanks to the Almighty God: my source, my foundation, and my sustainer. “The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong… but time and chance happen to them all.” (Ecclesiastes 9:11). I recognize that this moment is not mine alone — it is a divine gift, shaped by grace and opportunity.

To my beloved dad: you have been my first hero, my constant guide, and the quiet strength behind everything I’ve accomplished. Your words of wisdom, your sacrifices — seen and unseen — and the values you’ve instilled in me have shaped my path more than I can ever express.Thank you for working so hard, for believing in me even when I couldn’t see the light, and for teaching me what it means to stand tall with humility and grace. Your example has been my compass, and your love — steady and unconditional — has been my greatest source of courage. Today, as I stand here, I carry your strength with me. This moment belongs to you as much as it does to me.

And to my beloved mom: her love was always in the details,  the last-minute runs for forgotten supplies, the careful planning for every school event, the way she made sure I always looked my best. But even more than that, she planted values deep in me, constantly reminding me of who I am.
 

My parents taught me to walk with integrity, treat others with kindness, and never compromise on faith or character. So to all proud parents, thank you for your unwavering love, sacrifices, and constant support — we would not be here without you.

To our teachers: thank you for challenging us, inspiring us, and guiding us with wisdom and care. You have shaped our minds and our character in lasting ways.

And to the non-teaching staff: your quiet dedication behind the scenes has made all the difference. Thank you for supporting us in ways that often go unseen but are always deeply felt.

As I reflect on the journey we have shared as a class, I am filled with emotion. Our time together has been more than attending lessons or passing exams. We have laughed, cried, prayed, and celebrated together. We’ve faced challenges and deadlines, but we’ve also danced at school events, cheered one another on, and stood together in difficult times. We grew into more than classmates — we became a family.

Now, as we prepare to step into new chapters, I speak to those we leave behind. Whether you’re discovering your voice or chasing a dream others may not yet see, keep going. Let faith ground you. Trust the process. With grace and determination, you will reach the place meant for you.

To my fellow graduates: we step into the future with boldness and purpose, equipped with the wisdom we’ve gained and the strength of who we’ve become. We walk forward with purpose, grounded in the values we’ve been taught. Let us strive not just for success, but for significance. Let us uplift, not just achieve. May we carry the spirit of ICS,  its faith, its excellence, its compassion, into every space we enter.

As we close this chapter, I leave you with a quote by Maya Angelou that has guided me:  “Do the best you can until you know better. Then, when you know better, do better.”

Class of 2025, we know better now. Let’s go out and do better — with faith in our hearts, fire in our spirits, and gratitude for where we began.

Congratulations to the Class of 2025, and happy 25th anniversary to our beloved International Community School.

Valedictorian Speech by Lanease -Esta Markin