Marianas High School\u2019s 2018 class valedictorian Louise Zheng Li joined her friends and classmates in receiving their diplomas in yesterday\u2019s more than two-hour-long commencement exercise at the school grounds.<\/p>\n
Li, who was also the recipient of the CNMI State Board of Education award, only learned that she would be graduating at the top of her class last Friday.<\/p>\n
\u201cI could barely digest the idea of it. I just didn\u2019t feel like I deserved it. There were several people who worked harder than me,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
In her speech, though, Li reminded her fellow graduates that their grades do not define who they truly are. \u201cI want you all to know that your grades don\u2019t define you. They don\u2019t define the amount of effort you exert. They don\u2019t define how smart you are. And they don\u2019t definitely define where you\u2019re going to end up in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n
She added that they would encounter other things in their lives that would be more emotionally challenging. \u201cYou\u2019re going to encounter several moments in your life where you aren\u2019t happy with where you are. There are going to be times where you feel completely defeated. And that\u2019s totally fine\u2026 You\u2019re going to get out of that rut. So don\u2019t doubt yourself. Don\u2019t doubt your potential, because you are a part of a class that exudes potential. We\u2019re always going to encounter hardships in our lives. And those hardships are going to offer us opportunities to grow and lessons to learn,\u201d said Li.<\/p>\n
Class salutatorian Joyce Ane Rios Nisola said that resilience is the one thing that they all have in common. \u201cResilience is toughness. It\u2019s the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties. \u2026Many of us have been dealt with bad cards; cards that we did not want and yet, against all odds, amidst the fear, the difficulties, and heartaches, here we are. We are a resilient class.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nisola also received the Commissioner\u2019s Award.<\/p>\n
Chloe Hazel Anne Perone Salvosa, this year\u2019s Student Council president and runner-up in the 2018 Miss Marianas, was honored with the Governor\u2019s Award that was given by Gov. Ralph DLG Torres and first lady Diann T. Torres.<\/p>\n
Lischulisch William received the Lieutenant Governor\u2019s Excelsior Award, which was presented to a graduating senior that had overcome challenges and obstacles in life. Ryan Christopher Uvero Relucio was honored with the Principal\u2019s Award.<\/p>\n
Li, Nisola, John Michael Ortizo Costales, Relucio, Amelito Obtinalla Dalusong Jr., Diana Pacanan Maniacop, Salvosa, Catherine Nicole Diotares Roque, Chenoa Gale Bunts-Anderson, and Miguel Andrei De Leon Aninon completed the Top 10.<\/p>\n
Palau President Tommy Remengasau was the keynote speaker in the graduation that was also attended by Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, first lady Diann T. Torres, Lt. Gov. Victor B. Hocog, CNMI Board of Education officials led by vice chair Janice Tenorio, and Public School System commissioners led by interim commissioner Glenn Muna.<\/p>\n
There was a total of 382 MHS graduates in all.<\/p>\n